Custom Brass Idol Manufacturing — Design-to-Delivery from Khatauli
A bespoke brass idol commission is a four-phase project: design brief, clay master, sample pour, bulk production. The mould becomes your property when you commission it; we just store and operate it.
What we do for custom brass idol manufacturing buyers.
A custom brass idol commission is the most involved purchase a buyer can make from our workshop. It starts with a design brief — typically a sketch, a reference image, or a written description of what the buyer wants — and ends with a finished bulk order delivered to the buyer's warehouse. In between, we sculpt a clay master, photograph it for buyer approval, cast a mould, pour a small sample batch for finish approval, and then run the bulk production against the approved sample. A typical custom project from first brief to first delivery runs 12–16 weeks for an order of 25–50 pieces and 14–18 weeks for 100+ pieces. We have completed bespoke commissions for hotels, restaurants, residential developers, interior designers, religious institutions, and individual collectors across India and abroad — most recently a custom 36-inch Nataraja for a private collector in Bangalore and a 22-piece Ashta Lakshmi set for a temple in Coimbatore.
The four-phase process — design to delivery
Every custom project runs through four phases. The phases are sequential — each one gates the next — and the buyer is involved in the approval gate at the end of each phase. Skipping a phase or rushing the approval is the most common reason custom projects run late or fall short of the buyer's expectations; we have learned the hard way and we now insist on the four-phase structure for every commission.
Phase 1 — Design brief and feasibility
You send us your design brief — typically a sketch, a reference image, an existing piece you would like us to replicate, or a written description. We respond with a feasibility note within 3–5 working days: can we cast this in our workshop, what size range is feasible, what finish options work, and an indicative cost band for the project. If we are a fit, we move to the contract and the deposit; if we are not, we will tell you honestly and (where possible) suggest an alternative supplier.
Phase 2 — Clay master and buyer approval
Our senior sculptor builds a clay master of your design — typically to scale at the requested final size, or to a scaled reference (e.g. one-third size for a 36-inch final piece). The clay master is photographed from multiple angles and the photos are shared with you for approval. Revisions at this phase are easy and inexpensive — typically two rounds of revisions are included in the clay-master fee; further revisions are charged at a per-round rate. After you approve the clay master, we proceed to the mould casting.
Phase 3 — Sample pour and finish approval
We cast the mould and pour a small sample batch — typically 2–4 pieces, in your requested finish. The samples are photographed and (where feasible) shipped to you for in-hand approval. You confirm the finish, the colour tone, the surface detail, and the weight. After your approval, we proceed to bulk production. If the samples fall short of your expectation, we iterate on the finish or the surface treatment — typically one round of finish iteration is included in the mould fee.
Phase 4 — Bulk production and delivery
Bulk production runs against the approved sample. For orders of 25–50 pieces, the bulk pour takes 3–5 weeks; for orders of 100+ pieces, it takes 5–8 weeks (depending on size). Each piece goes through our standard 3-stage quality control (post-pour inspection, post-finish inspection, pre-dispatch inspection). Delivery is to the buyer's nominated address — for domestic buyers this is usually a road-freight shipment; for export buyers, the shipment is consolidated into a container at the standard FOB / CIF terms described on the export page.
Mould fees, sampling fees, and what they cover
The mould fee covers the clay master sculpting, two rounds of design revisions, the mould casting, and one round of finish iteration on the sample batch. The mould fee for a custom brass idol ranges from ₹45,000 to ₹1,20,000 depending on the size and complexity of the design — a 12-inch standard pose is at the lower end; a 36-inch multi-figure composition is at the upper end. The fee is quoted per project and is locked at the contract stage.
For orders of 100+ pieces of the same custom design, the mould fee is waived — the cost is amortised into the per-piece price. For orders of 50–99 pieces, we offer a 50% mould-fee waiver. The mould remains our physical property until the project is paid in full; on full payment, ownership of the mould transfers to you and we store it for free in our workshop and operate it on your behalf for future orders.
| Order size | Mould fee | Amortised into per-piece price? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–24 pieces | Full mould fee (₹45k–₹1.2L) | No (separate line) | Best for one-off commissions |
| 25–49 pieces | Full mould fee | No (separate line) | Common for hospitality projects |
| 50–99 pieces | 50% mould fee | Partial | Half amortised into per-piece |
| 100+ pieces | Mould fee waived | Yes (full) | Best for retail launches and large installations |
Lead times by order size
Custom projects run longer than standard catalog orders because the design and approval phases cannot be rushed. The table below reflects typical 2026 lead times from contract signing to first-piece delivery at the buyer's nominated address in India (add 4–6 weeks for sea-freight delivery to international destinations).
| Order size | Phase 1 (brief) | Phase 2 (clay master) | Phase 3 (sample) | Phase 4 (bulk) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–24 pieces | 3–5 days | 3–4 weeks | 1–2 weeks | 3–4 weeks | 8–10 weeks |
| 25–49 pieces | 3–5 days | 4–6 weeks | 1–2 weeks | 3–5 weeks | 12–16 weeks |
| 50–99 pieces | 3–5 days | 4–6 weeks | 2–3 weeks | 4–6 weeks | 14–18 weeks |
| 100+ pieces | 5–7 days | 6–8 weeks | 2–3 weeks | 5–8 weeks | 16–22 weeks |
For hospitality projects (hotel, restaurant, spa) with a property opening timeline, we strongly recommend sending the design brief 8–10 months ahead of the opening. This gives us time to run the full process without compressing the approval gates, and it gives the buyer time to specify the pedestal, the lighting, and the installation logistics alongside the piece itself.
Design revisions and the approval gate
The design-revision process is built into the clay-master phase. We include two rounds of revisions in the standard mould fee — a "round" being one consolidated set of feedback from the buyer that we incorporate into the next version of the clay master. Most custom projects complete within the two included rounds; some need a third round, which we charge at a per-round rate (typically 25% of the mould fee).
The approval gate is the point at which the buyer signs off on the clay master and authorises us to proceed to mould casting. Once you approve the clay master and we cast the mould, the design is locked — further changes at that stage require a new mould (and a new mould fee). We make this clear at the contract stage because the cost of changing a moulded design is meaningfully higher than the cost of changing a clay master.
What you can customise — and what you cannot
Not everything about a brass idol is customisable. The list below is what is and is not within scope for a custom commission — it sets realistic expectations for what a custom project can deliver.
What you CAN customise
- Size — any dimension from 6 inches up to 72 inches (above 72 inches the logistics become difficult)
- Pose — seated, standing, dancing, reclining, multi-figure compositions
- Iconographic detail — specific hand poses (mudras), specific ornaments, specific attributes held by the deity
- Finish — natural, antique, gold polish, or any of the design-grade finishes (verdigris, smoked, champagne, mirror)
- Pedestal / chowki — most commissions include a matching chowki; the pedestal design is part of the design brief
- Packaging — for export or gifting projects, custom-printed packaging is available
What you CANNOT customise
- The metal — we cast in brass as the default, in bronze and panchaloha for orders above 50 / 25 pieces respectively. The alloy composition of each is fixed by the metal-spec, not by individual preference.
- The traditional proportions — for religious icons (Ganesh, Lakshmi, Nataraja, etc.) we follow the Shilpa-shastra proportions, which are not subject to designer preference
- The clay master cost below the two-included rounds — further revisions are charged per round
IP assignment and ownership
The intellectual property in a custom design — the design itself, the clay master, the mould, the production drawings — is owned by the buyer from the moment the project is paid in full. We assign all rights to the buyer and confirm the assignment in writing at project close. We will not produce the same design for a competing buyer without your written consent.
Until the project is paid in full, we retain the IP and physical custody of the mould. This protects both sides — it prevents a buyer from walking away with a half-finished mould, and it prevents us from selling the design before the buyer has paid for the work. Once full payment clears, ownership transfers and the buyer can take physical possession of the mould if desired, or leave it in our custody for future production runs (which we operate at no charge).
Related reading
Custom Brass Idol Manufacturing — frequently asked questions.
What is the minimum order size for a custom brass idol commission?
How long does a custom brass idol project take from start to finish?
Who owns the design and the mould after the project is complete?
Can you replicate an existing brass idol I admire?
What alloys and metals can I choose for a custom commission?
Can I customise the pedestal or chowki that comes with the idol?
How are design revisions handled, and how many are included?
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