Magical Desert Bells of Kutch

These beautiful bells are handmade and hand tuned by third generation artisans in Kutchh, Gujarat (India) using ancient techniques believed to be over a thousand years old.

In Kutchh, bells were originally used to identify animals so villagers could organize their herds and trace them back to their rightful owners. A goat may have a small bell with a high tone, while a cow would have a larger bell with a deeper tone. Each family tuned their bells to a specific frequency to differentiate their animals (even those of the same size) from the others in the village.

The bells are meticulously formed from sheets of recycled steel which are hammered into shape by hand and neatly joined together using a special locking process that does not involve welding. Each bell is then coated with a powder primarily made of copper and then placed in a kiln under the hot desert sand. The heating and cooling process anneals the metals and gives each it’s unique beautiful patina.

Once cooled and unearthed, a wooden hammer is fastened to the center of each bell and master craftsman proceeds to meticulously hand tune each using age old techniques.

As local demand for these bells diminished, artisans eager to keep traditions alive began introducing them to outsiders who appreciate them for their beauty. We are proud to support this fair trade effort.

We offer 6 sizes, from 1.5” x 1” to 12” x 7”.

The smallest size makes an adorable accessory for gift packages, while the larger sizes make beautiful decorative accessories.

Approximate Sizes:

Size 1: 1.5 inch x 1 inch
Size 2:  2 inch x 1 inch
Size 3:  4 inch x 2.5 inch
Size 4:  6.25 inch x 4 inch
Size 5:  9.5 inch x 5.5 inch
Size 6: 12 inch x 7 inch

• Handmade in India
• Fair Trade
• Made of Steel