Bmgrouprealty at 21:20, 18 October 2025

2025-10-18T21:20:50Z

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{{Short description|Metal casting technique from India}}
{{italics title}}
[[File:Village lady grinding ants for her family.jpg|thumb|200px|Mother grinding ants for her family]]
[[File:'Dokra' items for sale at the West Bengal State Handicrafts' Fair in ECO Park, New Town, Kolkata, India, photographed December 10, 2023.jpg|thumb|'Dokra' items for sale at the West Bengal State Handicrafts' Fair in New Town, Kolkata.]]
'''Dhokra''' (also spelt ''Dokra'') is non–ferrous metal casting using the [[lost-wax casting]] technique. This sort of metal casting has been used in [[India]] for over 4,000 years and is still used. One of the earliest known lost wax artifacts is the [[Dancing Girl (prehistoric sculpture)|dancing girl]] of [[Mohenjo-daro]].<ref name=missouri>{{cite web|url =http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/minigalleries/lostwax/intro.shtml |title = Metal Working in India - Lost Wax Casting |access-date = 2009-02-08|last = Della Cava |first = Chiara |publisher = Museum of Anthropology, University of Missouri-Columbia}}</ref> The product of dhokra artisans are in great demand in domestic and foreign markets because of primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form. Dhokra horses, elephants, peacocks, owls, religious images, measuring bowls, and lamp caskets etc., are highly appreciated.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.infobanc.com/dokra.htm|title =Dokra|access-date =2009-02-08|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090130100223/http://infobanc.com/dokra.htm|archive-date =2009-01-30}}</ref> The lost wax technique for casting of copper based alloys has also been found in [[China]], [[Egypt]], [[Malaysia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Central America]], and other places.

==The process==
There are two main processes of lost wax casting: solid casting and hollow casting. While the former is predominant in the [[South India|south of India]] the latter is more common in Central and [[East India|Eastern India]]. Solid casting does not use a clay [[core (manufacturing)|core]] but instead a solid piece of wax to create the mould; hollow casting is the more traditional method and uses the clay core.<ref name=missouri/>

The first task in the lost wax hollow casting process consists of developing a clay core which is roughly the shape of the final cast image. Next, the clay core is covered by a layer of wax composed of pure [[beeswax]], [[resin]] from the tree ''Damara orientalis'' (more properly [[Agathis dammara]]), and [[List of vegetable oils#Nut oils|nut oil]]. The wax is then shaped and carved in all its finer details of design and decorations. It is then covered with layers of clay, which takes the negative form of the wax on the inside, thus becoming a mould for the metal that will be poured inside it. Drain ducts are left for the wax, which melts away when the clay is cooked. The wax is then replaced by the molten metal, often using brass scrap as basic raw material. The liquid metal poured in hardens between the core and the inner surface of the mould. The metal fills the mould and takes the same shape as the wax. The outer layer of clay is then chipped off and the metal icon is polished and finished as desired.<ref name=missouri/><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.india9.com/i9show/Dhokra-Craft-52343.htm |title = Dhokra craft |access-date = 2009-03-12|publisher =india9.com}}</ref>

==The name==
Dhokra Damar tribes are the main traditional [[metalsmith]]s of [[Odisha]] and [[West Bengal]]. Their technique of lost wax casting is named after their tribe, hence Dhokra metal casting. The tribe extends from [[Jharkhand]] to West Bengal and [[Odisha]]; members are distant cousins of the [[Chhattisgarh]] Dhokras. A few hundred years ago, the Dhokras of Central and Eastern India traveled south as far as [[Tamilnadu]] and north as far as [[Rajasthan]] and hence are now found [[List of regions of India|all over India]]. Dhokra, or Dokra from [[Dwariapur, Bardhaman|Dwariapur]] and [[Bikna]], West Bengal, is extremely popular. Recently [[Adilabad]] [[Dokra]] from [[Telangana]] got Geographical Indicator tag in 2018.

==Images==
{{multiple image
| align = center
| total_width = 1100

| image1 = Mother with five children.jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Mother with five children.

| image2 = Dhokra.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Dhokra displaying Hindu deities.

| image3 = Dhokra (couple).jpg
| alt3 =
| caption3 = Couple involved in various activities.

| image4 = Dhokra (Man).jpg
| alt4 =
| caption4 = Dhokra featuring man's bust.

| image5 = Dhokra (Woman).jpg
| alt5 =
| caption5 = Dhokra featuring woman's bust.

| footer =
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qiTyuxNThs ''Ancient Metal Casting Art of Dhokra at Dwariapur, West Bengal With Subtitles''] at YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffg07yxr_Vs ''Lost Wax Process or Dhokra Art of Bastar''] at YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ws1Hx1N5o ''Dhokra Art <nowiki>|</nowiki> A rare Bronze age craft <nowiki>|</nowiki> Bastar Art & Handicraft <nowiki>|</nowiki> The Tribal Hermit''] at YouTube
* Some other art of Chhattisgarh, [https://www.sanskritikchhattisgarh.in/2024/11/blog-post_14.html?m=1 baas or bamboo]

{{Geographical indications in West Bengal}}
{{Culture of West Bengal}}
{{Odia culture}}
{{West Bengal}}

[[Category:Artistic techniques]]
[[Category:Culture of Bengal]]
[[Category:Arts of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Bastar district]]
[[Category:Indian handicrafts]]
[[Category:Indian metalwork]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Metallurgical industry of India]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in West Bengal]]

Dhokra - Revision history

Bmgrouprealty at 21:20, 18 October 2025