Bronze and Kansa Utensils: Thali, Katori, Glass and Bells

This page holds 24 bronze and kansa pieces from ₹470, from a 3.5 inch katori to a 15.5 inch dinner plate. Kansa is the Indian name for bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. It is paler and more golden than brass, heavier in the hand, and it rings clearly when tapped.

Two kinds of things are here. The first is tableware: kansa dinner plates of 10, 11 and 15.5 inch, a 3.5 inch katori, a 3.5 inch glass, a 5 inch handi and a full dinner set. The second is bells. Bronze is the traditional metal for a ghanti because of its tone, and hand bells are listed at 4.7, 6 and 6.5 inch. Weights run from 60 g to 2.3 kg, and half the page costs ₹3,400 or less. If you are building a set piece by piece, start with a plate and one katori and add glasses later.

One care point matters more than any other: kansa is hard but brittle. A plate dropped on a stone floor can crack, which brass would only dent. Wash by hand with mild soap and a soft scrubber, dry at once, and keep it out of the dishwasher. It darkens with use, and a rub with tamarind or lemon and a quick rinse brings the colour back. Kansa suits families who like to eat from traditional metal, and it is a customary wedding and housewarming gift.