What the...? Strange questions for India experts

Nick-H · May 2nd, 2008, 01:14

Quote:

They are called by different names in different languages.

I suppose that is true of most things!

Lovely pots! Can this sort of pot be called Kumbh?

I don't think you will find them being used to carry milk, though. Brass vessels are expensive and something of a status symbol. The milkmen that I have seen selling untreated milk sell it from a stainless-steel can with a lid.

federica · May 2nd, 2008, 01:27

Can someone tell me what kavi powder is? I have a metal mirror from Kerala (polished metal) and it should be cleaned with kavi powder.... unfortunately I have no idea what it is

Munivar · May 2nd, 2008, 01:52

^ from http://temples.newkerala.com/Temples...-of-India.html

Quote:

Kavi Art

The Kavi Art is a popular temple art of coastal Karnataka and Goa. The term Kavi is the local name for Indian red pigment which is the only color used in this painting

machadinha · May 2nd, 2008, 18:38

That's all I can find on it too, yes; described as "red brick powder" on some sites. I guess a substance like that (i.e., fine sand or so) would be good for polishing metal, maybe ask at a metal/mirror-maker what to replace it by. Perhaps Nick can advise if he sees this, he's worked with (fine) metals I believe.

See also
http://www.sysindia.com/kolam/abt/aboutkolams.htm
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/bl...ker-kolam-367/

Or perhaps even to treat the mirror surface itself, I'd be wary of scratching it though:
http://www.aranmulakannadi.com/aranmulakannadi/

Nick-H · May 2nd, 2008, 20:08

You have a good memory! Yes, I have done some work with silver and gold, just as a hobby --- and the only thing I know of that might match (in colour at least) is jeweller's rouge.

It is used to give a final, high-gleaming polish to gold and silver items. It is not an abrasive, it is a burnishing substance.

The act of polishing an item, through various grades of sanding paper and compounds could be described as scratching it --- but with ever-finer scratches, until the scratches are not visible any longer. Rouge does not abrade; it burnishes. That is, it has a dragging effect on the surface of the metal, leaving it very smooth.

That's about as technical as my memory permits --- and probably utterly irrelevant to this thread!

freenote · May 2nd, 2008, 21:36

Just a guess ,jeweler's rouge = Kavi powder . Same colour and does the same thing .

machadinha · May 3rd, 2008, 03:59

Yes; remains to be seen if kolams are made with jeweller's rouge though

But other than that: Sounds like a fair bet. I'd just take that mirror to a specialist and see what they say.

ps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

probably utterly irrelevant to this thread!

Seemed most relevant to the question at hand to me. Good explanation really, I'd expected no less

Note that there seems to be a definite question here of is it the metal or the mirror that needs cleaning/polishing. That last link I gave seems to suggest the powder can be used to just attract any grease on the mirror surface and then be whisked off; but then after that it suggests using it for actual polishing of the same as well.

I think mirrors are/can be polished with sandpaper-like material yes, I'd just like to know what I'm doing before I started.

Again, I'd just take it to some specialized shop. Sounds like it's worth it, esp. since I noticed Federica already asked the same some years back with no answer, so it must be keeping her busy

federica · May 4th, 2008, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Sounds like it's worth it, esp. since I noticed Federica already asked the same some years back with no answer, so it must be keeping her busy

Hey, internet has a good memory

Thanks for all your replies, at the moment I am still reluctant to use anything on the surface of the mirror, I really don't want to destroy it. It is a precious gift for me.

I guess bringing it to a specialized shop would mean taking it back to Kerala

Not a bad idea, a trip for my mirror and me

For all who are getting curious now: It's this kind of mirror:
http://www.aranmulakannadi.com/aranmulakannadi/

freenote · May 4th, 2008, 06:47

tut tut any excuse

machadinha · May 4th, 2008, 06:58

There may be a visa category for the purpose?

"Hi, I'd like to apply for me & my refugee mirror please..."

federica · May 5th, 2008, 01:02

Maybe I can stay longterm because of the mirror?? Or even buy property... the mirror would need a home in it's native place... maybe I should apply for PIO or OCI for my mirror

machadinha · May 5th, 2008, 01:10

Exactly! Consider it a voluntary return of national treasury... Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

vireya · May 5th, 2008, 04:38

The mirrors look good, but surely those "reflections" are photoshopped in? Just how well does the mirror really reflect?

Aishah · May 5th, 2008, 07:44

'kavi powder' - I think what I got for polishing a brass pot from the local market is also this - it's a reddish colour (dark) and you use it with a bit of water so it's sort of like Brasso. Don't know about using it on mirror though - I use meths. type stuff for that.

machadinha · May 5th, 2008, 07:59

What's meths. type stuff, Aishah? Ethanol?

May 2nd, 2008, 01:27	#92
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 808	Kavi powder Can someone tell me what kavi powder is? I have a metal mirror from Kerala (polished metal) and it should be cleaned with kavi powder.... unfortunately I have no idea what it is

May 2nd, 2008, 18:38	#94
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,447	That's all I can find on it too, yes; described as "red brick powder" on some sites. I guess a substance like that (i.e., fine sand or so) would be good for polishing metal, maybe ask at a metal/mirror-maker what to replace it by. Perhaps Nick can advise if he sees this, he's worked with (fine) metals I believe. See also http://www.sysindia.com/kolam/abt/aboutkolams.htm http://www.indusladies.com/forums/bl...ker-kolam-367/ Or perhaps even to treat the mirror surface itself, I'd be wary of scratching it though: http://www.aranmulakannadi.com/aranmulakannadi/ __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

May 2nd, 2008, 21:36	#96
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,481	Just a guess ,jeweler's rouge = Kavi powder . Same colour and does the same thing . __________________ eyes ,eyes that have seen all , come back to the white chrysanthemum (Basho)

May 5th, 2008, 07:44	#104
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,807	'kavi powder' - I think what I got for polishing a brass pot from the local market is also this - it's a reddish colour (dark) and you use it with a bit of water so it's sort of like Brasso. Don't know about using it on mirror though - I use meths. type stuff for that. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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May 2nd, 2008, 20:08	#95
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	You have a good memory! Yes, I have done some work with silver and gold, just as a hobby --- and the only thing I know of that might match (in colour at least) is jeweller's rouge. It is used to give a final, high-gleaming polish to gold and silver items. It is not an abrasive, it is a burnishing substance. The act of polishing an item, through various grades of sanding paper and compounds could be described as scratching it --- but with ever-finer scratches, until the scratches are not visible any longer. Rouge does not abrade; it burnishes. That is, it has a dragging effect on the surface of the metal, leaving it very smooth. That's about as technical as my memory permits --- and probably utterly irrelevant to this thread!

May 4th, 2008, 06:47	#99
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,481	tut tut any excuse

May 4th, 2008, 06:58	#100
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,447	There may be a visa category for the purpose? "Hi, I'd like to apply for me & my refugee mirror please..."

May 5th, 2008, 01:02	#101
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 808	Maybe I can stay longterm because of the mirror?? Or even buy property... the mirror would need a home in it's native place... maybe I should apply for PIO or OCI for my mirror

May 5th, 2008, 01:10	#102
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,447	Exactly! Consider it a voluntary return of national treasury... Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

May 5th, 2008, 04:38	#103
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 208	The mirrors look good, but surely those "reflections" are photoshopped in? Just how well does the mirror really reflect?

May 5th, 2008, 07:59	#105
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,447	What's meths. type stuff, Aishah? Ethanol?

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