Bronze Urli From South India - Late 19th Century

This bronze Indian cauldron from South India is called an Urli and it dates to the late 19^th century. Urli's ( ഉരുളി ) are cooking vessels used as cauldrons for food preparation in Kerala, South India. Also called uruli or charakku, these cauldrons were used in both Tamil & Malayali homes and could hold vast amounts of food. They were placed directly on the fire and wooden poles were inserted through the loop handles at each side to carry them.

Traditionally they were always made from bronze, or bell metal using the lost wax process (cire perdue) and were made in Kerela. Each mold is destroyed during the casting process making each one unique.

Note this urli has an old dent (see photos) on one side which is reflected in the price. 

 

References: 

For a similar example see page 42 of Museums of India 'National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum New Delhi' by Jyotindra Jain & Aarti Aggarwala. 

 

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