Dhokra craft is a technique of making small bronze figurines by using the lost wax casting technique is famous as Dhokra craft. The craft for generation passed from father to son and survived almost for 4000 years. In India, this craft is practiced mainly by the tribes of West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. The metal base goes through a very detailed process that often takes a month or two. Bronze and copper are common metals used in Dhokra figurines. A core is made of clay to shape the desired design of the artifact. It is then dried and coated in wax and covered with a thin layer of mud on which the detailed design of the figurine is carved. Multiple clay layers are added thus, and when the wax dries off, metal is poured into the cavity, creating a thin, beautiful metal structure. These exquisite artifacts are then sold to in and across the world. If we look at them closely, we can see the details of the various instruments played by the figurines. The subtle blend of their backs, their somber expressions, and their penurious but happy demeanor tells us about the life of the Dhokra tribe.
Categories: Metal craft