Rainbow Twist Cone Bell
Brighten your days with this handmade, bell ornament crafted from recycled iron sheets, covered in copper alloys. A mini version of our classic bells, with a bright rainbow twist of a multi-colored braided loop with bright pink thread wrapped at the top. Use as a holiday ornament, or decorate door knobs, patios, windows, walls and more. Care instruction: Wipe clean Note: This is a handmade product created one at a time. Every piece is a creation of artisans, and based on craft styles that are centuries old. There may be natural blemishes or variations that are not product flaws. Such variations are inherent in the manufacturing of handmade products, so you may find minor distinctions that make your purchase special and truly one-of-a-kind. |
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Materials:
Iron and tin bell base, brass and copper powder coating, cotton, wood
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Item code: CRSB 114 Dimensions: 2.5" height bell, 7" height total |
Fair Trade Sustainable Handmade Funds Community Development Recyclable Recycled/ Upcycled |
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.