Urlis, Varpus & Urns

Urlis, Varpus and Urns are historically tied to the South of India and have been used by locals for centuries. The Urli, and it's larger cousin from Kerala, the Varpu, were generally made from cast bronze, and used to make Ayurvedic medicines and meals during festivals and for temple functions. Given the shallowness of thes vessels, they were ideal for making Ayurvedic medicine, with the belief that some of the metal reacted with the herbs making them more potent. Today, Varpus and Urlis have re-emerged as decorative items to adorn homes as well as large hotels.

Copper and brass urns were used extensively in the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu. They were housed in mansions belonging to the rich merchant class that made the region famous for its exquisite architecture. The shapes of some of these urns are quite uncommon and not easily available.