The Story of Painted Brick Moulds
Some of the most beautiful objects in our homes began life as something entirely ordinary. Our painted brick moulds are a perfect example. Once simple tools of construction, they are now reimagined as joyful, one of a kind decorative pieces.
Built by Hand, Used by Hand
Long before large scale mechanised brick production, bricks across India were made using traditional wooden moulds. In brickyards throughout the country, these sturdy, open ended frames were packed tightly with wet clay, smoothed off by hand, and tipped out to dry in the sun. The process was carried out by skilled artisans who relied on experience and instinct as much as speed.
Even today, in many regions of India, bricks are still made in this traditional way. The methods have changed little over generations. Clay, wood, handwork, and sunlight remain at the heart of the process.
The moulds themselves were built to last. Crafted from solid wood and reinforced at the corners, they were purely practical objects and were never intended to be decorative. Over time, they absorbed the marks of their trade. Clay pressed into the grain, edges softened by years of handling, and surfaces darkened by sun and soil. Each one developed its own character through use.
No two were identical. Subtle differences in size, wood, wear, and construction mean every surviving mould carries its own quiet history.
While brick making continues, the scale is not what it was 30 or 40 years ago. Year by year, traditional brickyards are becoming fewer and production is gradually declining as modern methods expand. Yet the knowledge and craft of making bricks by hand still endure.
A Second Life in Colour
The painting of these moulds is a much more recent chapter in their story. This decorative transformation began less than a decade ago.
Rather than following a long historical tradition specific to brick moulds, artisans approach them with a more freestyle spirit. They often draw on patterns and motifs they already use on other handmade articles, including florals, geometric borders, and repeating shapes. Familiar decorative languages are adapted to a new surface.
Though brick moulds were never historically painted as art objects, the act of decorating everyday surfaces has deep roots across India, from furniture to household objects. In that sense, painting reclaimed moulds continues a broader creative tradition that celebrates the ordinary through craftsmanship.
Styling Ideas
Their compact size makes them surprisingly versatile.
- Use one as a cheerful desk tidy.
- Style it in the kitchen for utensils or herbs.
- Add dried flowers for a rustic centrepiece.
- Hang it on the wall as a miniature piece of art.
- Group several together to create a patchwork of colour on open shelving.
They sit beautifully in eclectic, characterful interiors, especially alongside layered textiles, expressive ceramics, and other handcrafted finds. They are just as striking in a pared back, modern space, where aged wood and hand painted detail bring warmth and texture to clean lines.
Why We Love Them
We are drawn to pieces that carry soul. These painted brick moulds are wonderfully imperfect, and that is exactly the point.
Each one is genuinely one of a kind.
The wood bears authentic signs of age and use.
The painted finish is applied by hand and is never printed or uniform.
Artisans work freely, so no two patterns or colour combinations are quite the same.
They are small objects, yet they hold layers of story. From the brickyards where they once shaped homes to the artist’s hand that gave them a second identity, each mould carries a quiet sense of continuity.
There is something grounding about owning a piece that has already lived a life. These moulds were not made in a factory to look vintage. They are vintage, thoughtfully revived and given a fresh purpose.
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