Mannar, a small town located in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, is home to several artisan families who have traditionally been engaged in metal work. They make different articles including household utensils, idols of Hindu gods, and statues out of both bronze and brass.

These craftsmen belong to the Vishwakarma community. According to surviving documentation, they were brought in from Sankarankovil and Tanjore regions of Tamil Nadu almost 200 years ago, by the rulers of Travancore. Their specific task was to cast bronze religious iconography for temple rituals. They follow the ancient text Shilpashastra for the casting process.

The demand for bronze casting using this method has declined in modern times. However, there are still some traditional alas (or furnaces) which produce bronze objects on a small scale.

The raw materials used for the process include metal scraps, wax (a different variety for sculptures and vessels), charcoal (sourced from Tamil Nadu), brick powder (used to coat the object before applying wax to it), clay (for moulding), and wood and coconut husk (to generate heat during the casting process).

The tradition of bronze manufacturing peaked in South India during the reign of the Chola emperors. Its effect was felt in Kerala, with several craftsmen migrating to the state. However, compared to other Dravidian sculptures, the figures found in traditional Kerala sculptures have round faces and chubby cheeks. This is believed to be an influence of the elaborate mural paintings in the temple walls of Kerala. Other features typical to these sculptures include a heavy chest, projected belly and unworked upper back area.

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