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Buying a nilavilakku from Kerala when you live abroad
A nilavilakku is the lamp lit at every Kerala home and ceremony. Order one from Kerala, in brass or bell metal, and we pack it to travel.
Yes — you can buy nilavilakku and brass lamps from Indian shops even if they do not deliver to your country. India Rabbit gives you a free delivery address in India. You order to that address as an ordinary domestic customer, we receive and hold the parcel free for 30 days, combine it with anything else you buy, and forward the lot to you.
Why this is hard to buy where you are
Lamps sold abroad are usually lighter, thinner and mass-made. In Kerala the nilavilakku is made by metal workers who sell by weight, in brass or in bell metal, the bronze of the Mannar metal-craft tradition in Alappuzha. A geographical indication for the Metal Crafts of Mannar has been applied for and is under examination; nearby, the Aranmula metal mirror already has one.
Where to buy it
| Shop | What they are good for |
|---|---|
| Mannar metal workers | The bell-metal craft centre in Alappuzha district; a state study notes that most of its products are sold by weight. |
| Bhunes | Handcrafted brass nilavilakku, with a 16.5-inch lamp listed at about 3 kg. |
| Brass lamp sellers online | Listings range from small 10-inch lamps, one listed at about 620 g, to tall temple lamps of 21 inches and more. |
Kerala metal workers sell mostly to buyers in Kerala. A Kerala address makes your order local, and a heavy lamp has only a short trip to our warehouse.
What to check before you order
- Decide between brass and bell metal. Brass is copper and zinc. Bell metal is a high-tin bronze, about 78 per cent copper and 22 per cent tin in Mannar's work, with a deeper ring and a darker gold.
- Check the weight as well as the height. Sellers often price by weight, and a heavier lamp of the same height is usually thicker metal.
- Ask whether the lamp comes apart. Many tall lamps unscrew into sections, which makes them easier to pack.
- Ask the seller for a photo of the base and joints; that is where cheaper lamps are thin.
Weight, customs and getting it here intact
Weight
Heavy. A 10-inch brass lamp is about 620 g in one listing, and a 16.5-inch lamp about 3 kg in another, so a tall lamp is priced on its weight.
Volume
Compact for its weight, especially if it comes apart.
Customs
Declared as a brass or bell-metal lamp at its real value. It is ordinary metalware, not a restricted item. Check what your destination allows.
Condition
We wrap the lamp, pad the wick cups and the top, and pack it so it cannot move. Sections are wrapped separately.
Where we send it
Pick your country for transit times and customs notes.
- the UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Bahrain
- the USA
- the UK
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Germany
- the Netherlands
- Italy
- Spain
- Belgium
- Austria
- Sweden
- Norway
- Sri Lanka
- the Philippines
- Japan
- France
- Nepal
- China
- Bangladesh
- South Africa
- Poland
- Nigeria
- Thailand
- Kenya
- Hong Kong
- Denmark
- Mauritius
- Indonesia
- Zambia
- Georgia
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- the Maldives
- Kazakhstan
- Ghana
- Finland
- Armenia
- All destinations
Questions
What is the difference between brass and bell metal?
Brass is copper and zinc. Bell metal is a bronze with a high tin content, about 22 per cent tin in Mannar's work, with a deeper sound and darker colour.
Is a nilavilakku expensive to ship?
It is heavy, so it is priced on weight. Check the seller's listed weight on our calculator before you buy.
Can a tall lamp be shipped?
Yes. There is no size limit of our own, and many tall lamps unscrew into sections for packing.
Is Mannar bell metal a GI product?
An application for the Metal Crafts of Mannar is under examination at the GI registry; it is not registered yet.
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