Delicate Song Bell Chime

  • $32.90
    Unit price per 


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Enjoy the unique chimes from this trio of small, handmade bells. Hang outside to hear in the wind, or decorate indoors with these authentic copper bells from India. Recycled iron hanger is adjustable in length. Due to the nature of these raw materials (powdered brass and copper), traces of lead may sometimes be present.  

Materials: 
iron and tin bell base, brass and copper powder coating, cotton, wooden beads
Item code: CRSB 101

 

  Fair Trade 

  Sustainable 

  Handmade

  Funds Community Development

 

 

 

 

   Recycled/ Upcycled 

Dimensions: 15.5" H x 5" W, string 19"

 

Bell Craft

Bell making is an ancient Indian craft with enchanting origins. Traditionally used by farmers to identify their livestock, each bell is tuned to produce a distinctive chime. Our bells are made by a Muslim community, where both men and women are involved in creating music from lifeless metal using craftsmanship passed down through generations. Made from recycled tin and iron, artisans in the desert Kutch region manually cut and hammer the metal to hand-shape the bells, then coat them in powdered brass and copper before firing in kilns. Each rustic bell is then tuned to reveal a rich, unique sound like no other bell. Due to the nature of these raw materials, traces of lead may sometimes be present. 

Due to consecutive droughts over the years, cattle breeders could no longer buy bells on a regular basis and the demand for traditional bell making was on the verge of dying. With the help of fair trade and mission-based organizations, however, at least 1,000 village artisans are repositioning this art form and earning sustainable livelihoods by selling the bells internationally. Most artisans work from their homes on local or homemade furnaces. Conscious customers, fair trade practices and a new international platform now provide disadvantaged artisans with economic stability and a respectable social standing. Watch the video for more on the various phases involved in making bells at artisan Abdul’s workshop.

About Matr Boomie

Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The true India is not to be found in its few cities, but in its 700,000 villages. If the villages perish, India will perish too.” Matr Boomie’s partnerships with thousands of tribal artisans in villages throughout India has quadrupled their monthly incomes.

Rural Development in India

Many of the rural regions of India are agricultural, which means villagers migrate to cities for seasonal, exploitative work. Other areas are too dry and arid to support agriculture, so artisans rely solely on craft production for income. Living wages, however, are only the start to a true fair trading partnership. We also seek to improve artisans’ quality of life and ensure sustainability of their craft. Social development programs such as training, education and health care go hand-in-hand with environmental impact projects such as recycling, water filtration and solar-powered energy. Conserving resources and caring for the environment ensures sustainable employment can be passed down through generations.