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Design Resource
Pavithra Mothiram - Payyanur, Kerala
The Sacred Ring Making
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral,Divyadarshan C. S. and Amulya S.
Tools and Raw Materials
Following are the tools and raw materials required for pavithra mothiram of kerala:
• Gold Bar: 916 gold bar is an essential raw material to make the ring.
• Rice Husk: It is used like a tight cushion for the small burning furnace made for heating the metal (gold).
• Coconut Shell: Shell cleaned and cut it into small curved plate, which is used for rolling the golden pieces into balls.
• Concentrated Sulphuric Acid: It is used for shimmering the gold.
• Polish Paper: It is used for polishing and refining the ring.
• Needlepoint Polishing Tool: Tool used in polishing the ring.
• Soap Nut: A natural cleanser which is used in cleaning the ring.
• Water: It is used for washing and cooling of the heated gold metal.
• Traditional Lamp: It is used for igniting the fire.
• Circular Metal Stand: A holder like, were artisan places the lamp at an appropriate required height.
• Fiber Cloth: Fire resistance silica fiber cloth used as a holder for the minute pieces of the metal while heating it.
• Brass Metal Brush: A brush used to wash out the dust from the ring.
• Pipes in Various Size: It is required for blowing of the air to direct the fire.
• Tweezers and Tongs: An essential tool for picking and holding the ring
• Cutting Pliers and Cutting Nippers: It is used for cutting of the gold wires.
• Gold Wires: It is used for the formation of other design forms like minute balls and spiraled wire.
• Knife: It helps in cutting and elimination of the extra gold.
• Hammers: Various kinds of hammer used in the process of ring making like Chisel head hammer used for flattening of the gold bar.
• Filer: It is used in smoothing and leveling the ring.
• Shaping Gauge or Swage Blocks: It is used in shaping the ring.
• Ring Sizer Stick: It helps in acquiring the required diameter of the ring.
• Anvil or Jewelry Bench Block: Stake anvil made from railroad rail is used like a base while hammering the gold metal.
• Crabs Eye Plant Seeds: A natural glue producer, which is used in sticking the small gold embellishments onto the ring.
• Magnifiers: It is worn by the artisan, which helps in having a better view of the small embellishments while working.
• Pot: It is used like a furnace holder, were it is filled with the rice husk.
• Coal: A heat conductor used for heating the gold metal.
• Mini Soldering Torch Pipe: It is used for blowing a thin stream of air which helps in directing the fire towards d required place.
