Here is how we bring India's royal art forms back to life.
Where Patience Becomes Artistry
At Kuteerr, we practice distinct craft disciplines — each requiring years of mastery, specialized tools, and an almost meditative patience. Tarkashi demands absolute precision in wire placement; Marori demands a steady hand and an artist's eye for depth and shadow.
Neither is rushed. Neither is replicated by machine. Every single piece that leaves our atelier has passed through at least seven deliberate, skilled, irreversible steps — each one adding a layer of soul to the object.
7+
process per craft
0
machines used
∞
hours of practice
The Making Process
Select a craft to explore its step-by-step journey from raw material to finished masterpiece.
Selecting the Wood
High-quality, seasoned wood is carefully chosen and prepared — free of cracks, knots, and imperfections. Only wood that can hold fine grooves without splitting is accepted.
Design Transfer
Traditional motifs — geometric, floral, lattice — are sketched or precisely traced onto the wood surface using chalk or fine ink, guiding every subsequent wire placement.
Carving the Grooves
Skilled artisans carve fine, shallow channels along every design line with specialized blades — precisely calibrated to the width of the brass wire.
Cutting the Brass Wire
Thin brass wires are hand-cut and shaped with angled pliers to fit seamlessly into every curve, corner, and junction of the carved design.
Inlaying the Brass Wire
The brass wire is meticulously pressed and hammered into the grooves section by section — flush with the wood surface. This is the heart of Tarkashi: wire and wood becoming one.
Securing & Polishing
The inlaid wire is secured with natural adhesives. The entire surface is then hand-polished with progressively finer abrasives to enhance the warm contrast between wood and gleaming brass.
Final Finishing
A protective lacquer is applied — preserving the brass's golden glow for generations. Each piece is individually inspected and only then earns the Kuteerr mark.
Tools of the Trade — Tarkashi
Groove Blade
Precision channel carving
Brass Wire
0.5–1.5mm flat wire
Setting Hammer
Wire seating & flush-set
Polishing Block
Multi-grade finishing
Surface Preparation
The brass surface is meticulously cleaned, buffed, and polished to create a flawless base. Any imperfection will be amplified during engraving or metal forming, therefore absolute precision is essential.
Design Sketching
Traditional motifs — floral, paisley, or geometric — are carefully hand-drawn onto the prepared metal surface. These sketches guide both the engraving of Marori and the raised metal work of Repoussé.
Forming the Design (Repoussé)
In Repoussé work, artisans gently hammer the metal from the reverse side to raise the design in relief. The metal is gradually shaped and refined from both sides until the desired depth and form emerge.
Engraving the Details (Marori)
Using specialized chisels and burins, artisans carve fine patterns and intricate details into the brass surface. Each strike of the tool is deliberate and irreversible, demanding exceptional precision.
Filling with Natural Lac
Natural lac — a traditional resin — is carefully applied into engraved areas where required, creating a supportive base and adding depth to the decorative patterns.
Application of Enamel or Contrast Fill
A rich black enamel or contrast material is applied into selected engraved areas, highlighting the intricate patterns and creating a striking contrast against the warm golden brass.
Polishing & Finishing
The surface is polished by hand through multiple stages. Excess enamel is removed, and the brass is gradually buffed to reveal a radiant golden glow.
Final Detailing
Artisans perform meticulous refinements — sharpening edges, enhancing textures, and balancing relief and engraving — until every element achieves the standard of a finished work of art.
Tools of the Trade — Marori
Burin Set
Fine engraving chisels used to carve intricate Marori patterns.
Repoussé Hammers & Punches
Specialized tools used to raise and shape metal from the reverse side.
Chasing Hammer
Used for controlled strikes during engraving and surface detailing.
Natural Lac
Traditional resin used to fill engraved areas and support enamel work.
Burnisher
A finishing tool used to polish the metal surface to a high-gloss shine.
Watch the Craft Unfold
Click any clip to watch in full
Tarkashi vs Marori
Distinct origins, distinct techniques, one shared commitment to perfection.
Tarkashi
Medium
Seasoned Wood
Material
Brass / Copper Wire
Origin
Rajasthan, India
Result
Decorative Objects
Marori Khulai
Medium
Brass / Silver / Gold
Material
Lac & Black Enamel
Origin
Rajasthan & Gujarat
Result
Jewellery & Art
"We do not make products. We perform a ritual — one that has been performed in the courts of kings for six hundred years. Our hands are simply the latest in a very long line."
Own a Piece Born from This Process
Every product in our collection has passed through each of these steps — by hand, with devotion.