The story
Aranmula kannadi is a mirror made not of glass but of a polished copper-tin alloy whose exact recipe is a family secret. Legend says artisan families were brought from Tamil Nadu to work at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple and discovered the alloy. The mirror is one of the auspicious items in Kerala's ashtamangalyam set and a popular gift. Only a few Vishwakarma families still make it, and the craft holds one of India's earliest GI tags.
In numbers
An Aranmula artisan said fewer than 10 families remain in the craft.
Mirrors of Aranmula: How artisans of Kerala are fighting hard to keep a tradition alive — The News MinuteAranmula Kannadi (Aranmula Metal Mirror) is a registered GI (application 3, certificate 10).
GI Registry — Aranmula Kannadi, application 3
GI tag
- Aranmula Kannadi (Aranmula Metal Mirror)Application no. GI Application No. 3 (Certificate No. 10)GI Registry, Intellectual Property India — application 3
Ways in for a newcomer
- Premium gifting and corporate orders with GI certificates
- Online sales with authenticity cards
- Frame-making and packaging for mirror makers
- Craft-tourism visits to Aranmula workshops
Problems the cluster faces
- Very few artisan families
- Fakes made with glass or cheaper alloys
- Slow, skilled work and fragile products
- Rising metal prices
Businesses to start here
Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →Pooja Brass Wares (Idols, Lamps, Bells) →