ആറൻമുള കണ്ണാടി (Aranmula Kannadi)
The Aranmula Kannadi is a front-surface metal alloy mirror produced exclusively in Aranmula village, Kerala, using a secret alloy composition known only to a small number of Vishwakarma craftsman families. Unlike glass mirrors (which reflect from a silver coating behind the glass), the Aranmula mirror reflects from the polished metal surface itself — producing a reflection of exceptional clarity and without the slight double-reflection artifact of glass mirrors. The alloy composition is a closely guarded secret transmitted only within the hereditary family group — it is known to be a copper-tin alloy (bell metal family) but the precise proportions and any additional components have never been publicly disclosed or independently verified. The mirror is cast in clay molds, ground flat, and polished to optical quality through a multi-stage manual process using progressively finer abrasives. It is considered a sacred object in Kerala — gifted at weddings, kept in puja rooms, and used in the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple's annual ritual. GI-registered in 2004, it was among India's earliest GI registrations.
Risk level: Critically Endangered · Not inscribed; GI registered (2004 — among India's first GI registrations)
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