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Copper in Ancient India c9: Chapter IV. Alloys of Copper—(I) Bronze

Copper in Ancient India c9

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Chapter IV. Alloys of Copper—(I) Bronze

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The principal use of copper, besides in coinage, lies, as is well known, in making alloys. We would now proceed to give here a short account of the various alloys of copper used in ancient India, the most important being *riti* or *pittala* (brass) and *kāmsya* (bronze). That *kāmsya* meant bell-metal, also used in making gongs and other articles, is evident from a passage in Amarkosha’s lexicon (6th century A.D.) in which *kāmsya-tāla*-is mentioned as one of the many musical instruments prevalent in ancient India.¹ Bell-metal contains a greater percentage of tin than bronze.

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¹ वंशादिकन्तु शुपिरं कांस्यातालादिकं वनम्—Amarkosha, Swargabarga, 179.

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Kautilya’s Arthashāstra mentions an alloy called *triputaka* made of 2 parts of silver and 1 part of copper.

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The proportion in which copper and tin were melted together to form *kāmsya* is given in the Rasaratna-samuchchaya (13th century) in which we find that eight parts of copper and two parts of tin were used in making the alloy and that bronze made in Surāshtra (Surat) was excellent.² The original Sanskrit equivalent for brass was *riti*, the word *pittala* being subsequently adopted for it. Brass was prepared in India at first by heating copper with calamine and carbonaceous substances. It was, however, prepared by heating copper and zinc in the 13th century.

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² अष्टभागेन ताम्रेण द्विभागकूटिलेन च . विद्रुतेन भवेत् कांस्यं तत् सौराष्ट्रभवं शुभम् ।—Rasaratna-samuch-chaya, V, 205.

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Alchemical works make mention of an alloy of five metals called *Vartalauha* produced from *Kāmsya*, copper, brass, iron and lead.

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A number of alloys of copper was used in India during the Moghul period of her history. We find mention of several alloys of copper in the Ayeen Akbari. *Kāmsya* or "sefaidru" was a composition of four seers of copper and one seer of tin melted together, the proportion of copper and tin being the same as in Rasaratna-samuchchya. *Rowee* was an alloy of copper and lead being made of four seers of copper and one and a half seer of lead. Brass, *berinj* or *peetal* was made of two seers of copper and one and a half seers of *ruh-i-tutia*. *Seem Suckhteh* was an alloy of silver, lead and copper, being of deep colour and very bright and was used in silvering. "His Perfect Majesty" Emperor Akbar was the inventor of another alloy of copper viz. "cowelputter" compounded of two seers of bronze and one seer of copper, being a "very elegant and beautiful composition."¹

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¹ Gladwin’s "Ayeen Akbari," Vol. 1, p. 40.

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We would now proceed to give a more detailed description of the history and methods of preparation of the two most important alloys of copper viz. bronze and brass.

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Bronze does not appear to have been known during the Vedic age, as it is not mentioned in any of the Vedas. It is, however, certain that it was an article of common use in the 3rd century B.C. It is mentioned in both the medical treatises of Charaka and Shusruta as well as in Kautilya’s Arthashāstra. Shusruta gives directions for drinking water in bronze vessels (besides those made of gold, silver, crystal or earth). The lawgiver Manu gives directions for the purification, amongst others, of brass and bronze vessels.

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Then again from the large quantities of ornamental bronze articles excavated at Tinnevelly in the Madras Presidency it appears certain that bronze was known in Southern India at a very remote time. It is to be noted, however, that these bronze articles were either used as household utensils or for ornamental purposes and along with them were associated weapons made of iron.

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Bronze continues to be designated as *Kāmsya* in Amarkosha’s lexicon, though the latter stands for bell-metal also. Both brass and bronze came to be regarded as alloys by the thirteenth century as we find that the author of *Rasaratna-samuchchaya* while classifying metals writes that “brass, bronze and *Vartalauha* are three alloys.”

The Bronze Age

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In Europe and specially in Eastern Europe a bronze age intervened between the Stone age and the Iron age; but so far as India is concerned, available evidence is absolutely insufficient to establish an Indian bronze age. Mr. Vincent A. Smith in his article entitled “the copper age and bronze implements in India” and in the supplementary essay¹ already referred to has collected a list of the very small number of bronze implements hitherto discovered in India. Only six authentic Indian bronze implements are known, whilst the number of copper implements discovered in India is nearly 500 as has been stated before. These six specimens comprise one flat celt, one so-called sword, one spear-head and three harpoon heads. These are undoubtedly made of bronze and the results of analysis are given below—

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¹ Vincent A. Smith *Indian Antiquary*, 1905, p. 240, and 1907, p. 53.

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| | Copper | Tin |
| 1. A flat celt discovered at Jubbulpur in 1869, unfortunately soon lost but analysed. | 86.7 | 13.3 per cent. |

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2. One bronze sword or rather spear head, length 28¾", purchased by Sir Walter Elliot from persons in India. Locality not known. 95.68 3.83 per cent

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3. One spear-head presented in 1837 to the British Museum, supposed to come from Etawah. Looks like bronze but has not been analysed.

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4. A fine harpoon-head presented by Sir Alexander Cunningham to the National Museum, Dublin, said to have been found somewhere in India. do

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5. A harpoon found by a Berwick man while fishing in the Tweed near Norham castle and evidently of Indian origin although it is difficult to explain how it found its way to England. Probably it was brought home in modern times by some sailor. 91.12 7.97 per cent

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6. Another harpoon-head closely resembling the specimen No 5 found along with the sword or spear head mentioned above (No. 2). 93.18 6.74 per cent.

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The percentage of tin in the sword is only 3.83 and might be due to accidental admixture but the celt from Jubbulpur contains 13.3 per cent of tin and is undoubtedly a true bronze, whilst in the case of the other two specimens analysis shows a fair percentage of tin. The percentage of tin in ancient European bronzes ranges from 5 to more than 18 per cent.¹ The number of bronze implements found in those parts of Europe in which a bronze age undoubtedly existed is very large, but it may reasonably be contended that one or two bronze weapons of doubtful origin are not sufficient to prove the existence of an Indian bronze age.

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¹ Evans, Bronze Implements, p. 419.

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In the supplementary paper referred to above Mr. Vincent A. Smith quotes Dr. Furer who states that "numbers of ancient metal arrow-points are found in the soil around Bithur (near Cownpore) said to be relics of the time of Ramchandra."² Presumably all these Bithur specimens are made of copper and not bronze, but no analysis of these specimens has been made. A similar collection of "metal arrow-heads" has been made in the great jhil or swamp in the village of Parior (Oudh), but they also seem to be made of copper and not bronze, though no analysis has been made of the specimens. It seems undoubted that the available specimens are not enough to establish an Indian bronze age. The reason why India missed a Bronze Age appears to be that as the use of iron was known from Vedic times the use of bronze as implements was not necessary. I agree in holding that the prevailing idea of the eastern origin of the bronze age must be dropped and as a matter of fact eastern countries like China did not also pass through a bronze age. It would interest readers to learn incidentally the extent of area in Europe in which the bronze age really prevailed. Canon Greenwell, the veteran archaeologist writes "Indeed it cannot be said that there was ever any real development of a bronze cultivation, except in Western Europe. Assyria and Egypt certainly did not possess one; nor can Greece, the Islands of Asia minor be said to have brought it to any high pitch, though there are splendid specimens such as the Mykenac blades. Still there is nothing like the fine swords, spear-heads &c. so abundant in the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Switzerland and Italy. Hungary developed it certainly, but further east and south it never reached to any height nor have many bronze weapons &c. been found in these countries. Spain too, is very poorly represented, which as it had much traffic with the Eastern Mediterranean, seems to point to the bronze culture not having come through that channel.”¹

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² Monum. antiquary, N.W.P. and Oudh, p. 165.

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¹ Quoted by Vincent A. Smith, Indian Antiquary, 1907. p. 54.

Ancient Specimens of Indian Bronze

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As regards ancient archaeological specimens of bronze, India has nothing to boast of in comparison with the colossal bronze statue of Appollo in the Roman Palatine Library or the still more famous bronze colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, though in iron India was unique.²

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² The sculptor of the Rhodes colossus which was a bronze statue of the sungod Helios was Chares, a native of Lindus. The work occupied him for twelve years and the statue was a gigantic one being 70 cubits high. Having stood near the harbour for 56 years it was thrown down by an earthquake about the year 224 B.C. The enormous fragments were sold in 656 A.D. by the Saraceus, who conquered the country, as old notal to a Jew who had to employ as many as 900 camels to carry them away.

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But the use of bronze for the purpose of ornamentation was not unknown, as can be gathered from the remarkable discovery of ancient bronze articles at Tinnevelly in the Madras Presidency whilst excavating the ancient pre-historic burial sites in which it abounds.³ Bronze articles were found along with iron swords, daggers and weapons and are of superior workmanship and do not include any bronze weapons. The bronze articles included ornamental vase stands, bowls, jars and cups of different patterns with ornamental bowl lids. Bronze bangles, necklaces, ear ornaments and diadems were also found. Two circular tubes of similar shape resembling scent bottles and a number of sieve cups and perforated strainers for straining rice were also found. These utensils and ornaments show how bronze, on account of its colour, was regarded as a highly prized article in ancient India.

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³ Annual Report, Archaeological survey of India, 1902-3. These articles and iron weapons have been referred to in the author's “Iron in ancient India.”

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In India besides being used as art ware, bronze was also used in casting statues of various gods and goddesses. The Eastern school of bronze-casters of Bengal in the eighth or ninth century was famous and it was from this school that Nepal and Tibet obtained their knowledge of bronze casting. Lāmā Tārānāth, the celebrated Tibetan historian of Buddhism, is of opinion that “the Nāgā productions of Nāgārjuna’s time were rivalled by the creations of Dhimān and his son Bitapāla, natives of Varendra (Bengal) who lived during the reigns of Devapāla and Dharmapāla (8th and 9th centuries). Both father and son were skilled alike as painters, sculptors and bronze founders. Bitpāla, who remained in Bengal, was regarded as the head of the Eastern school of bronze casting.”¹ Several excellent specimens of this Eastern school of bronze-casters in the shape of statues have been collected in the Archaeological Section of the Indian Museum.

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¹ Vincent A. Smith, History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon.

Manufacture of Bronze

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As regards the method of manufacture of bronze, its two constituents copper and tin were known in India from very remote times. Though neither is mentioned in the earliest of the Vedas, both are mentioned in the White Yajurveda and the Brāhmanas. As bronze came to be used by the third century B.C., it appears that the two metals, which were known from a much earlier period, were at that time molten together to form the alloy. Recipies as to the proportion of the two metals used are, however, not found in the earlier works. As has already been noted, we find that the author of the Rasaratna-samuchchaya of the 13th century mentions that bronze was made by melting together eight parts of copper and two parts of tin. The same proportion was observed in the manufacture of bronze in Emperor Akbar’s time as may be learnt from the Ayeen Abkari.¹

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¹ A Greek manuscript of about the 11th century in the library of St. Marks, Venice, also gives the composition of bronze as made from 11b (16oz) of copper and 2oz. of tin, the proportion being the same as used in ancient India.

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The famous bronze cannon “Maliki-i-Maidan” at Bijapur. (Photograph from the “Empress,” 1913, No 2, p. 12).

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