Desert Bells

These bells are made by Janmamad Luhar in the Kutchchi desert region of western India.

Janmamad employs an ancient technique of bell-making, passed on to him through generations. Janmamad's brother and uncle, as well as the women in the family also participate in the making of these bells.

The bells are formed from sheets of recycled steel. They are beaten into shape by hand, then dipped in copper. Women make a dough that they pat around the bells; the bells are then buried under the hot desert sand in a kiln. The heat anneals the metals, welding them into bronze, giving each piece its unique patina.

After firing, each bell is individually hand-tuned. From the smallest 'size 0' bell, to the largest bell, to every bell in every chime... each bell is hand tuned using an age-old technique! This is what truly makes each of these pieces unique!

Photographs of the bell making process are on this page.

We offer these bells in ten different sizes.

These are the approximate heights of the bells:

• Size 0 = 1.35".
• Size 2 = 2.25"
• Size 3 = 2.45"
• Size 4 = 3"
• Size 6 = 4"
• Size 7 = 4.75"
• Size 8 = 5.25"
• Size 10 = 6.25"
• Size 12 = 9"
• Size 13 = 12"

Photo Credit: Pam Lott

Please note, that the price is for ONE bell. The photograph of the bells together is to show the size differences between them. They are not sold as a collection as photographed.