Copper Enamel Arts and Crafts - Alibaug, Maharashtra
The copper enamelling process starts with the cutting of copper sheets. The required design is printed and pasted on the copper sheet. A flat copper sheet is cut using a copper cutting machine. Then it is given a proper curve or shape by beating with a hammer. In this process, a round-shaped sheet is used. Then a clear flux powder is put into the copper sheet. This powder works as a base coat. A thin copper wire is used to make design patterns. The wire is bent and cut using scissors. The cut pieces of copper wires are put together on the flux-applied copper surface as per the design. The sides are cleaned using a brush. Now this plate is put on a gas stove for heating. The process of heating helps flux powder to melt and fix the copper wire pieces on the surface. Here the melted flux powder acts as a base coat. The heated plate is allowed to cool for some time. After cooling it is dipped into the sulphuric acid solution. The art piece is cleaned using a buffing machine. Now comes the colouring part.
The colour glass powder is made by crushing colour glass stones using a Kandap machine. The glass powder is mixed with water to make it wet. This wet glass powder is now put on the design by using a brush. Bright and eye-catching colours are used for painting. Once the painting is done excess water on the surface is tipped using a cotton cloth. The cotton cloth soaks an excess amount of water from the design. The art piece is heated once again. Now heating will help to enhance and fix the colours. After cooling, the art piece is dipped into the sulphuric acid solution. This process removes impurities that occur from the heating process. It is buffed one more time. And here is the final product.
