TranslateNachiarkoil in Thanjavur district is the home of the kuthuvilakku, the tall standing brass oil lamp found in Tamil homes and temples. Made by the Kammalar community using sand casting and hand finishing, the lamps carry finials shaped as Annapakshi birds, lotus buds and deity figures, and they hold a Geographical Indication tag.
Origin district
Thanjavur, at Nachiarkoil near Kumbakonam
Materials
Brass and bronze alloys, sand moulds
Typical uses
Home shrines, temple lighting, weddings, housewarming gifts
Where to buy
Nachiarkoil workshops, Kumbakonam brass shops, Poompuhar
A wooden or metal pattern is pressed into fine moulding sand to create the cavity, and molten brass is poured in. The rough casting is knocked out, and the base, stem and top are cast as separate components. Craftsmen then turn, file and chisel each part before assembling the lamp, often with a threaded joint so it can be dismantled for cleaning.
Decorative finials — the Annapakshi swan, peacocks, lotus and deity figures — are cast separately and fixed at the top.
Nachiarkoil takes its name from the Srinivasa Perumal temple in the village, and its metalworking community has supplied lamps to temples across the Cauvery delta for generations. The Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku carries a Geographical Indication registration. Lamps range from small single-wick pieces to floor-standing lamps well over a metre tall.
Workshops in Nachiarkoil, a short drive from Kumbakonam, sell directly and allow visitors to see casting and finishing. Brass shops in Kumbakonam and Thanjavur stock a wide range, and Poompuhar emporiums carry certified pieces. Swamimalai bronze workshops are nearby and make a natural combined trip.
