decor Pune-based Studio Coppre uses the traditional art of copper beating to create bespoke modern designs
METAL MUSING
It shines more than gold and its malleability is better than silver. Yet most don’t give it a second look. But this wasn’t always the case. Back in the 17th century, metalworking artisans called Tambats migrated to Tambat Ali in Pune. Over 800 craftsmen thrived under the royal patronage of the Peshwas. They beat copper to make artillery, seals and utensils. Then the British replaced the Peshwas and steel and plastic quickly substituted the metal. And people started to forget about this art form. But all that changed when Studio Coppre was formed in 2014. This Pune-based, all-woman start-up has Rashmi Ranade as its founder and lead designer along with three co-founders Chhanda Bihari, who handles management and finance, Sudakshina Sinha Banerjee, who looks at market outreach and Seemantini Mihir, who takes care of social media marketing and e-commerce.
BEATING IT TO PERFECTION
“We began researching into the different types of
mathaar-kaam (beating patterns). Each artisan has a signature beating style and the product can be traced back to the artisan just by looking at the finished piece,” says Ranade, whose team is busy reviving beating patterns and is in the process
of creating a master document that will preserve the data of beating styles for posterity. As for the design, they take cues from heirloom pieces.
A WIDE RANGE ON OFFER
The brand’s portfolio includes décor, utility and wellness products. “Our hottest selling items are our water bearers as drinking water from copper has health benefits. Copper is light friendly, and so, it’s natural that our other best-selling series are our tea-light holders,” says Ranade. Other popular ranges include retro boxes in copper, brass and bidri as heirloom giveaways, the tableware series of mule mugs, cake stands, finger-food platters and dip bowls.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS
The products are time consuming and tedious to make. “They go through anywhere between 30 to 50 steps in the making process. Cutting the sheet, shaping, annealing, sanding, cleaning, heating, cooling, spinning, washing, beating, filing and buffing are the basic processes. A complicated piece would need an additional 10 or so steps,” says Ranade. Clearly, it is a skill worth saving.
PRICE `350 to `9,750; AT www.coppre.in