Bhalchandra Kadu

It is heartening to see the pride in Bhalchandra Kadu's eyes : a pride for his art, craft heritage and lineage. It is the kind of pride that's amiss, rare even, amongst craftspeople today.  

'Kadusaab' (as the Coppre team calls him) is a dynamic, energetic and enterprising individual. He is the seventh generation in his family to follow the craft of Tambat. Like his ancestors, he was crafting traditional Tambat vessels until 1985. Since then he set up his own workshop with the intention of deriving creative satisfaction but more importantly to break away from the loop of 'daily wages'. 

Until today, Tambat craftspeople earn a daily wage of Rs. 200 for eight hours of work. Coppre in its work along with INTACH Pune Chapter has been involved in sensitising and encouraging the community to sell their wares as individual pieces of art, rather than for daily wages or material weightage. 

A visitor book sits on his table where he also keeps newspaper clippings of celebrity visits. He particularly takes immense pleasure in sharing the news clippins and views of internationally renowned designer, Ollie Anderson who visited his workshop in 2003. 

Coppre has had a long association with Kadusaab over the years in developing a range of contemporary copper wares and in the recent since we launched in early 2012. He has an astute understanding of copper as a metal, is keen to explore, take risks, evolve.

He aspires to found a training school for continuing the legacy of his beloved craft. Apart from being a successful craft entrepreneur, Kadusaab would also make an excellent mentor for the young generation of Tambat craftspeople. 

Outside his workshop in Tambat Ali 

One of Coppre's most loved and admired wares, the meditation urali...

... in its first stages of creation in Kadusaab's workshop

Kadusaab at the kiln overlooking his workshop

The core of Coppre

At the core of Coppre's being is Tambat craft. And the core of Tambat craft is its Craftspeople.
Infact, it is impossible to separate one from the other.

The beauty of Coppre wares is such that each indvidual piece has received complete attention from its maker, the craftsman. It has been with him for atleast 3-4 days in the precincts of his home. He beats each and every individual indentation (called matharkaam, the most distinguishing feature of this craft), one at a time - with care, precision and detail. This makes the Tambat wares that you purchase 'special', doesn't it?

And that's why we encourage those who come in contact with us, those who are getting to know us, and those who purchase/d Coppre wares to understand little nuances of the craft, bits of its history, the heritage of its craftspeople and the evolution that the craft has been through and is undergoing.

In this vein, our blog will commence with a series of 'Portraits - Coppre's Craftspeople' by which you could know the makers of the product that you wish to buy or have already purchased.

Here's to the start of another year:
With the music of metal-hammering in the alleys of Tambat Ali,
To ideating contemporary designs that will make Tambat wares amicable to the now,
To the appreciation of this heritage craft and its handmade beauty
And permeating the lives of new people and going to places near and far.

To a meaningful and fulfilling 2013!