Step into Kumartuli, the potters’ quarter of north Kolkata where Durga Puja idols are born. Maa Durga’s crowned face and her roaring lion fill the foreground, while an artisan works with brush and clay beneath bamboo scaffolding, surrounded by rows of half-finished deities, all held within an ornate carved frame. A tribute to the craftsmen who bring the Pujo to life every year.
How it’s engraved
These magnets are engraved on solid black acrylic with an infrared (IR) laser, and getting this level of detail is a genuinely technical process. Acrylic reacts to laser energy in a very narrow window: too much power and the surface melts, bubbles or clouds; too little and the marks come out faint and patchy. For every design, the power, speed, focus and line spacing are carefully calibrated and tested on offcuts before the final piece is run.
The artwork itself is prepared like a fine engraving plate. Shading is built from thousands of tiny, precisely spaced marks, so the laser can recreate soft gradients, glowing lights and reflections on water using nothing but the contrast between the polished black acrylic and the frosted, engraved surface. The result is a crisp, almost photographic silver-grey image with real depth, which is why no two runs are rushed and every magnet is checked by hand before it leaves the studio.
Details
- Original artwork designed exclusively by artist & owner of YldKat Studios, Ayantika Sen.
- Size: 4″ × 3″ (rectangle)
- Material: Solid black acrylic with a strong magnetic back
- Technique: High-detail IR laser engraving, calibrated piece by piece
- Sticks to the fridge, a locker, a whiteboard or any magnetic surface.
- A meaningful gift for Durga Puja, Bijoya and every Bengali who misses the smell of clay and incense in October.
Care
Wipe gently with a soft, dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth. Avoid alcohol, solvents and abrasive cleaners, which can scratch or cloud acrylic, and keep away from direct heat.
