Custom Brass Idol Orders — Design, Mould, Lead Time & Intellectual Property
A custom brass idol is a 6–10 week conversation between your design intent and our sculptor's craft. The mould is the easy part; getting the design right is the work.
Custom Brass Idol Orders — the complete guide.
Custom brass idol orders are a specific part of our manufacturing capability and operate on a different workflow from catalog orders. A custom order begins with a design brief — a sketch, a reference image, a written description, or a combination of all three — and progresses through a clay-master approval phase, a sample-casting phase, and finally a bulk-production phase. The end-to-end timeline from brief to delivery is typically 6–10 weeks for a standard custom design and 10–16 weeks for a complex composition. Custom orders are the most rewarding and the most demanding part of our work. They are rewarding because the buyer is usually bringing a specific vision — a family heirloom to be recreated, a regional style that is not in our catalog, a hotel installation that needs a specific design language — and the result is a piece that exists nowhere else. They are demanding because the design iteration takes time, the clay master must be approved before any metal is poured, and the bulk production cannot begin until the buyer is satisfied with the sample. Rushing this process produces poor results; we have learned to set expectations clearly at the start. The most common custom order we receive is a recreation of an heirloom or family piece — a grandmother's Ganesh that has worn out, a temple murti that needs to be replaced, a regional deity form that the buyer cannot find in any standard catalog. The second most common is a design based on a customer-supplied reference image, usually a photograph or an artist's rendering. The third most common is a totally original design — a unique composition, a specific posture, a custom size. Each type has its own workflow and its own considerations, and the sections below walk through each. The most important thing to understand about a custom order is that it is a collaboration, not a purchase. The buyer brings the design intent and the approval authority; the workshop brings the manufacturing capability and the craft knowledge. The best outcomes come from both sides being willing to iterate and to compromise on details that do not serve the final piece.
Design submission — what to send and what to expect
A custom order begins with a design submission. The submission can take several forms: a hand-drawn sketch with measurements, a digital rendering, a photograph of an existing piece to be recreated, a written description of the desired form, or any combination of these. The more detail you provide at submission, the more accurate the clay master will be on the first attempt — but every custom order goes through at least one revision cycle regardless of submission quality, because the translation from 2D reference to 3D clay master always surfaces details that need adjustment.
Useful information to include in the submission: the desired height and width, the finish preference (gold polish, antique, natural brass), the intended use (home puja, temple, hotel installation, gifting), any specific iconographic requirements (which hand holds which object, the posture of the deity, the ornaments), the desired quantity, and the deadline. Reference images from multiple angles are helpful — a single front-view image forces the sculptor to guess the side and back profiles.
Mould fees, sampling, and the cost structure
The cost of a custom brass idol breaks into three phases: clay master fee, mould fee, and production cost. Each phase is invoiced separately and payment is due at the start of each phase. The buyer is not obligated to proceed to subsequent phases — if the clay master is not approved, the order ends at that point and the buyer owes only the clay master fee.
Clay master fee: ₹8,000–₹25,000 depending on the size and complexity of the design. The clay master is a one-of-a-kind hand-sculpted prototype in clay or wax, photographed from multiple angles and shared with the buyer for approval. One revision cycle is included in the clay master fee; subsequent revisions are ₹3,000–₹6,000 each depending on the extent of the change.
Mould fee: ₹5,000 for designs under 12″, ₹12,000–₹25,000 for designs 12″–24″, and ₹25,000–₹45,000 for designs above 24″. The mould is the negative form used for casting; it is created from the approved clay master and is typically good for 200–500 castings before it needs refurbishment. The mould is owned by the buyer after production is complete and is stored at our workshop for future re-orders (storage is free for 24 months; after that a nominal annual storage fee applies).
Production cost: per-piece pricing for the bulk run depends on the size, finish, and quantity. Standard custom production pricing is 15–25% above the equivalent catalog piece (because the production run is shorter and the setup time per piece is higher). The mould fee is fully credited against the first production run above 100 pieces and is partially credited (50%) against runs of 50–100 pieces. Mould fees are not credited for runs below 50 pieces.
Lead times — from brief to delivery
Custom order lead times vary by design complexity and order quantity. The phases below reflect typical timelines for a standard custom order with reasonable iteration cycles.
| Phase | Standard design | Complex design |
|---|---|---|
| Design review and clay master sculpting | 10–14 days | 14–21 days |
| Buyer review and revision cycle | 5–10 days | 7–14 days |
| Mould creation | 5–7 days | 7–14 days |
| Sample casting and finish | 7–10 days | 10–14 days |
| Buyer sample approval | 5–7 days | 5–10 days |
| Bulk production (50 pieces) | 14–21 days | 21–28 days |
| Bulk production (100 pieces) | 21–28 days | 28–42 days |
| Bulk production (250+ pieces) | 28–42 days | 42–56 days |
Total end-to-end timeline: 6–10 weeks for a standard design at 50–100 pieces, 10–14 weeks for a complex design at 100+ pieces, and 14–18 weeks for a large-format (24″+) custom order. Add 2–3 weeks if the production slot falls during festival season (August–November).
Design revisions — how many and at what cost
Every custom order includes one revision cycle in the clay master fee. The revision cycle is a defined window where the buyer reviews the clay master, requests specific changes (proportions, posture, ornament detail, finish), and the sculptor implements them. The revised clay master is photographed and shared for final approval before mould creation begins.
If the buyer requests further changes after the included revision cycle, additional revisions are billed at ₹3,000–₹6,000 per cycle depending on the extent of the change. A second revision is uncommon but not rare — usually triggered by a stakeholder (a temple committee, a family elder, an architect) who wants to see the design before approving production. Three or more revisions are a red flag that the design brief was not specific enough, and we will usually pause the project to clarify the design intent before incurring further costs.
IP and design ownership — what you own and what we keep
Intellectual property for a custom brass idol order is straightforward: the buyer owns the design (the clay master, the mould, and the right to produce from the mould) after payment is complete. The workshop retains the right to use the design for internal reference, marketing photography, and portfolio display unless the buyer specifically requests confidentiality. Confidentiality is offered at no additional cost and is specified in the order agreement.
For designs based on a customer-supplied reference (a photograph of a competitor's piece, a scan of a copyrighted artwork, a regional style that is in active commercial use by another manufacturer), the buyer warrants that they have the right to commission the reproduction. We do not accept commissions that would infringe on another manufacturer's catalog design or on a copyrighted artistic work. If the reference image is from a public source (a temple sculpture, a museum piece, a centuries-old bronze) the IP concerns are minimal because the reference is in the public domain.
For designs commissioned as work-for-hire (where the buyer specifies the design and the workshop creates it), the IP assignment is automatic on final payment. The buyer receives a written IP assignment that transfers all design rights to the buyer; the workshop retains no claim on the design or its derivatives.
What custom orders do NOT include
Custom orders are a manufacturing service, not a full-service product development engagement. The following are explicitly outside the scope of a custom brass idol order unless separately contracted.
- Design concept development from a blank slate — we manufacture from a buyer-supplied brief; we do not create original designs on speculation. If you want us to develop a concept, that is a paid design consultancy engagement, quoted separately.
- Branding and packaging design — we package the finished idols in our standard wholesale packaging. Custom packaging, branded boxes, or retail-ready packaging is quoted separately.
- Marketing photography and product copy — the workshop provides basic documentation photos; professional product photography and marketing copy are the buyer's responsibility.
- Retail distribution — we sell to the buyer; we do not handle retail distribution of the finished idols. The buyer is responsible for distribution through their own channels.
- End-consumer after-sales support — we honour manufacturing defects and transit damage claims, but the buyer handles end-consumer questions about the product.
- Patent or trademark registration — we do not file patents or trademarks on the buyer's behalf. The buyer is responsible for any IP registration they wish to pursue.
Related reading
Custom Brass Idol Orders — frequently asked questions.
How much does a custom brass idol mould cost?
What is the typical lead time for a custom brass idol order?
Can I submit my own design or reference image?
How many design revisions are included in the custom order?
Who owns the design after a custom order?
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for a custom brass idol?
Can I order a single sample of a custom design before committing to a bulk order?
What if I am not satisfied with the clay master?
Do you offer design exclusivity for custom moulds?
Other FAQ topics.
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