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Uttar Pradesh is the largest Brass and Copper making state
in India with thousands of establishments. The range too is really wide.
In metal ware, each locale has its own special design. In domestic-ware
each of the scores of lotas (small water-pots) is known by the name of its
origin, like Etawah, Varanasi, Sitapur, etc. 
The ritual articles, which are largely the specialty of Uttar Pradesh,
are largely in copper like tamrapatra (pot for storing water);
panchapatra for holding in all the articles needed for worship;
simhasan a seat for the deity; kanchanthal, plate for offering
flowers and sweets, and a host of such things. Some centre also cast
icons, particularly Varanasi. A little village called Srinagar makes very
beautiful traditional images with prominent conch shell eyes.
Techniques Of Casting
Two methods are used in casting: 'para', mould-casting for making a
single composite item of a simple kind and; 'darza', sand-casting where
various parts of an intricate object are separately prepared and then
soldered.
The Mughal Patronage
Moradabad
in U.P. has become synonymous with art of metalware. It is specially noted
for it's colored enameling and intricate engravings in niello. The
metalworkers of the city of Moradabad flourished during Mughal rule. They
continue to dominate the Indian market for engraved as well as utilitarian
brass.
The Art of Beautification of Metal
A thin coating of lac is given to the article and the pattern traced on
it and with a steel, pointed pencil and only then engraved.
Engravings in 'nakkashi' type is done on tinned surface where the
indentations are from stet as per design while the simpler ones are from
memory. Thereafter the grooves are filled with 'lac' of different hues.
The decorations are done in golden color against a background made white
by tin polishing. Although many of the processes are semi-mechanized,
engraving continues to be done by hand. Workers in sheet brass are known
as khatera and those who cast the metal are known as bharatias.
Plates, cups, bowls, boxes and coffeepots are engraved with a range of
floral and geometric patterns and these compositions are often inlaid with
brightly colored Lac or vegetable resin. The decorations may include
scenes reminiscent of the style of Mughal painted miniatures, but also
portray incidents from the Hindu Scriptures.
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