पीतल - Pītal (Brass) | Inheritage Foundation Art & Architecture Thesaurus | Inheritage Foundation

Title	पीतल - Pītal (Brass) पीतल Pītal
Description	Pītal (Brass) is an alloy of copper and zinc, known for its malleability, ductility, and corrosion resistance. It is commonly used for decorative elements, hardware, and castings in architectural applications.
Tags	पीतल Pital Brass Alloy Copper Zinc Decoration Metal Tibet Pītal Moradabad Tarnishing Corrosion Copper Alloy Zinc Alloy Metal Alloy Ritual objects Kalasha
Material ID	`INHFMAT-709061973-20-11-25-PT`
URI	https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/brass
API Endpoint	`https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/brass`
Total Sites	17
Primary Sites	12
Created	November 20, 2025
Last Updated	November 20, 2025

Material Types

Types	Alloy Copper Alloy Metal Metal Alloy Non-ferrous Metal

Regions

Regions	Tibet Pan-Indian Pan-India Himalayan Region Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Rajasthan India Pan India Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) - known for brassware

Historical Context

Time Periods	15th Century CE onwards Medieval Period CE 18th Century CE Mughal Period Medieval Period CE onwards Colonial Period CE Medieval Period Mughal Period CE Colonial Period 17th Century CE 7th century CE 13th century CE Yuan Dynasty 15th Century CE Modern Era
Dynasties	Mughal Maratha British Mughal dynasty Rajput Various dynasties across India and Tibet Mughal Empire Maratha Empire Fifth Dalai Lama's Reign Tibetan Empire Sakya Dynasty Rajput kingdoms

Geographic Sources

Sources	Metal workshops Local foundries Imported brass Recycled metal Moradabad brass industry Jaipur metal workshops Imported metal Imported metals Metal workshops in various regions Moradabad brassware industry (Uttar Pradesh) Smelting of copper and zinc ores Metal workshops in Moradabad Jaipur Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) imported from Europe Imported from Nepal and India Copper and zinc mines in Tibet and surrounding regions Imported from India or China Copper and zinc mines (historical) Metal workshops across India Mines in Rajasthan Metal workshops in Uttar Pradesh Smelting facilities Moradabad brassware industry Brass foundries in Moradabad Imported from various countries

Sources

Metal workshops

Local foundries

Imported brass

Recycled metal

Moradabad brass industry

Jaipur metal workshops

Imported metal

Imported metals

Metal workshops in various regions

Moradabad brassware industry (Uttar Pradesh)

Smelting of copper and zinc ores

Metal workshops in Moradabad

Jaipur

Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh)

imported from Europe

Imported from Nepal and India

Copper and zinc mines in Tibet and surrounding regions

Imported from India or China

Copper and zinc mines (historical)

Metal workshops across India

Mines in Rajasthan

Metal workshops in Uttar Pradesh

Smelting facilities

Moradabad brassware industry

Brass foundries in Moradabad

Imported from various countries

Properties

Properties	Density: 8.4-8.7 g/cm³ Composition: 60-70% Copper, 30-40% Zinc Melting point: 900-940°C Density: 8.4-8.73 g/cm³ Tensile strength: 330-460 MPa Corrosion resistance Tensile strength: 340-460 MPa Melting point: 900-940 °C Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/mK Tensile strength: 340-470 MPa Corrosion resistance: Moderate Tensile strength: 300-500 MPa Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/m·K Tensile strength: 338-469 MPa Melting point: 900-940 °C (depending on composition) Tensile strength: 340-480 MPa Tensile strength: 340 MPa Tensile strength: 300-600 MPa Corrosion resistance: Good Zinc content: 30-40% Copper content: 60-90% Composition: Copper (60-90%), Zinc (10-40%) Density: 8400-8700 kg/m³ Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/m.K

Density: 8.4-8.7 g/cm³

Composition: 60-70% Copper, 30-40% Zinc

Melting point: 900-940°C

Density: 8.4-8.73 g/cm³

Tensile strength: 330-460 MPa

Corrosion resistance

Tensile strength: 340-460 MPa

Melting point: 900-940 °C

Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/mK

Tensile strength: 340-470 MPa

Corrosion resistance: Moderate

Tensile strength: 300-500 MPa

Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/m·K

Tensile strength: 338-469 MPa

Melting point: 900-940 °C (depending on composition)

Tensile strength: 340-480 MPa

Tensile strength: 340 MPa

Tensile strength: 300-600 MPa

Corrosion resistance: Good

Zinc content: 30-40%

Copper content: 60-90%

Composition: Copper (60-90%), Zinc (10-40%)

Density: 8400-8700 kg/m³

Thermal conductivity: 109-159 W/m.K

Common Uses

Uses	Decorative elements Hardware (hinges, handles) Statues Hardware Ritual objects Musical instruments Religious objects Castings Utensils Inlays Ritual objects (bells, lamps) Idols Hardware fittings Lamp Decorative domes Finials Inlay work Chandeliers Statuary Decorative fittings Door handles Window latches कलश - Kalasha (Finials) मूर्ती - Murti (Statues) Hardware (handles, hinges)

Related Materials

Materials	ताम्र - Tāmra (Copper) जस्ता - Jasta (Zinc) लाख - Lāksha (Lac) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) लोहा - Lohā (Iron) तांबा - Tāmbā (Copper) जस्ता - Jastā (Zinc) तांबा - Tambā (Copper) Lohā (Iron) जस्त - Jasta (Zinc) लाख - Lākh (Lac) कांच - Kānch (Glass)

Related Styles

Styles	Tibetan Buddhist Art Metalwork Tibetan architecture style Regional folk styles Mughal architecture Rajput architecture Tibetan Art Buddhist Art Traditional Indian architecture style Colonial architecture style Rajput architecture style Mughal architecture style Tibetan Buddhist architecture Various Indian temple architectures South Indian temple architecture Colonial architecture Indo-Saracenic architecture style European architecture style Tibetan Architecture Tibetan Buddhist art Religious Architecture Temple architecture Domestic architecture South Indian temple art Traditional Indian architecture

Styles

Tibetan Buddhist Art

Metalwork

Tibetan architecture style

Regional folk styles

Mughal architecture

Rajput architecture

Tibetan Art

Buddhist Art

Traditional Indian architecture style

Colonial architecture style

Rajput architecture style

Mughal architecture style

Tibetan Buddhist architecture

Various Indian temple architectures

South Indian temple architecture

Colonial architecture

Indo-Saracenic architecture style

European architecture style

Tibetan Architecture

Tibetan Buddhist art

Religious Architecture

Temple architecture

Domestic architecture

South Indian temple art

Traditional Indian architecture

Related Categories

Categories	Monastery Religious Art Temple Statues Palace Household items Decorative Art Religious Objects Household Objects Sculpture Fort Residential buildings Residential Building Household objects Residential Buildings Idol Monument

Conservation Notes

Notes	Susceptible to dezincification Requires cleaning and protective coatings Tarnishing Requires regular cleaning Potential for corrosion Susceptible to tarnishing Requires regular polishing Vulnerable to dezincification Tarnishing due to oxidation Dezincification in corrosive environments Requires polishing and protective coatings Chemical cleaning Corrosion in acidic environments Requires polishing Corrosion in humid environments Susceptible to tarnishing (oxidation) Potential for dezincification (selective leaching of zinc) Requires polishing with appropriate abrasives Vulnerable to theft Susceptible to dezincification (loss of zinc) Requires cleaning to remove tarnish Use of protective coatings to prevent corrosion Susceptible to tarnishing due to oxidation Requires regular polishing to maintain luster Vulnerable to dezincification in corrosive environments Susceptible to dezincification (loss of zinc) in certain environments Requires regular cleaning to maintain luster Can develop a green patina Potential for dezincification Vulnerable to tarnishing May develop dezincification (loss of zinc) in corrosive environments Dezincification (corrosion of zinc component) Requires cleaning with appropriate polishes and protective coatings Requires polishing to maintain luster Can develop verdigris in humid environments Requires periodic polishing to maintain luster Protection from corrosive environments Requires polishing with mild abrasives Prone to dezincification in certain environments Requires periodic polishing to maintain its luster Can develop a patina over time

Notes

Susceptible to dezincification
Requires cleaning and protective coatings
Tarnishing
Requires regular cleaning
Potential for corrosion
Susceptible to tarnishing
Requires regular polishing
Vulnerable to dezincification
Tarnishing due to oxidation
Dezincification in corrosive environments
Requires polishing and protective coatings
Chemical cleaning
Corrosion in acidic environments
Requires polishing
Corrosion in humid environments
Susceptible to tarnishing (oxidation)
Potential for dezincification (selective leaching of zinc)
Requires polishing with appropriate abrasives
Vulnerable to theft
Susceptible to dezincification (loss of zinc)
Requires cleaning to remove tarnish
Use of protective coatings to prevent corrosion
Susceptible to tarnishing due to oxidation
Requires regular polishing to maintain luster
Vulnerable to dezincification in corrosive environments
Susceptible to dezincification (loss of zinc) in certain environments
Requires regular cleaning to maintain luster
Can develop a green patina
Potential for dezincification
Vulnerable to tarnishing
May develop dezincification (loss of zinc) in corrosive environments
Dezincification (corrosion of zinc component)
Requires cleaning with appropriate polishes and protective coatings
Requires polishing to maintain luster
Can develop verdigris in humid environments
Requires periodic polishing to maintain luster
Protection from corrosive environments
Requires polishing with mild abrasives
Prone to dezincification in certain environments
Requires periodic polishing to maintain its luster
Can develop a patina over time

Recommended Sources

Title	Type	Notes
Metallurgical Analysis Reports	Technical Report	Alloy composition
Metallurgy Journals	Journal Article	Brass properties
Brassware of India	Craft Documentation	Manufacturing techniques and cultural significance
Metals and Alloys in Ancient India	Book	Metallurgical analysis
Metals in Indian Art	Book	Metallurgical analysis
Archaeological Chemistry Journal	Journal Article	Brass alloy analysis
National Metallurgical Laboratory Reports	Metallurgical Report	Brass composition and properties
ASM Handbook, Volume 2: Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials	Handbook	Brass properties and applications
Indian Metal Crafts	Book	Brass production and uses
Metalworking in India	Book	Techniques and history
Archaeometallurgy studies	Research Paper	Analysis of brass artifacts

Heritage Sites (17)

Site Name	Status	Usage	Confidence
Govind Dev Ji Temple Jaipur	Primary		100%
Hutheesing Jain Temple Ahmedabad	Primary		100%
Jagdish Temple Udaipur	Primary		100%
Jokhang Temple Lhasa Tibet	Primary		100%
Khandoba Temple Jejuri	Primary		100%
Krishna Temple Bur Dubai	Primary	Walls	100%
Mangeshi Temple Ponda Goa	Primary		100%
Potala Palace Lhasa Tibet	Primary		100%
Ramoche Temple Lhasa Tibet	Primary		100%
Sakya Monastery Shigatse Tibet	Primary		100%
Sera Monastery Lhasa Tibet	Primary		100%
Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam Durban	Primary		100%
Marble Palace Kolkata	Secondary		100%
Shiva Temple Bur Dubai / Jebel Ali	Secondary	Walls	100%
Shree Ganesha Temple Mount Edgecombe	Secondary	Decorative	100%
Shri Guruvayurappan Temple UAE	Secondary	Roof	100%
Sri Venkateswara Temple Penn Hills	Secondary		100%