Gallery View: Tribal crafts in dhokra art tradition

Global SourcesUpdated on 2023/12/01

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Perfected over more than 4,000 years, dhokra is a lost-wax method of casting nonferrous metal still widely used in India's tribal crafts industry.

Manufacturers use brass and brass wires as base materials, and employ clay molds, pure beeswax, nut oil and resin from the Damara orientalis tree to make the cast. They add handcrafted designs and flourishes to everyday pieces such as paperweights, penholders, key holders and decorative figurines. Products feature vintage human figures, musical instruments, animals and religious icons.

Antique finishes are common, with variations in dull, shiny golden and combination of both. Some designs depart from convention and use handpainted colors to achieve visual interest and depth.

To showcase its rich collection of handicrafts, India launched the country's largest marketplace in October 2020 through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Called the Tribes India E-Marketplace, the platform, which also includes organic products, is designed to recognize artisans and producers, and help them reach international markets.

Paperweight & penholder in 1

Cast using the lost-wax process in the dhokra art tradition, this handcrafted cylindrical paperweight and penholder from Aakriti Saket Enterprises features a wire-work rim and base, and tribal human figures on the body. The ASEDAPS-02 is made of brass and has a dull antique finish. Height is 3in, diameter 2in and weight about 310g. Price is $20. MOQ is 10 pieces and delivery lead time 15 days.

Music band figurines

Kristylla's 7V2A7549 brass item featuring a band, with three members holding a traditional musical instrument, harmonica and mrudunga percussion, is handcrafted in the dhokra style using the lost-wax casting technique. It is polished manually and with a machine to achieve a semi-fine texture with a dull and shiny golden finish. Dimensions are 17x4x18cm and weight is about 1.25kg. The product, priced at $21, has a 10-piece MOQ. Delivery takes 15 days.

Wall key holder

A wall-mounted key holder withan elephant head design and a dull golden finish, Kristylla's 24 model is made of brass cast with the lost-wax technique used in dhokra art. It is 5.5in long and weighs approximately 200g. Price is $5. MOQ is 10 pieces. Orders have a 15-day delivery lead time.

15in-long peacock boat

A Bastar Dhokra artwork, Pratibha Art's 2.3kg peacock-shaped boat ferrying five people is made of corrosion-resistant cast brass with a shiny antique finish. The peacock's body and beak are multicolored and accentuated with golden metalwork. The 2499 model is 15in long and 9in high. Price is $36, plus GST and shipping charges. MOQ is 10 pieces and delivery lead time 15 days.

1.7kg bull Nandi figurine

A sitting figurine of the bull Nandi, the celestial vehicle of Shiva in Hindu mythology, this tribal craft item from Pratibha Art is made of cast brass painted in black, red, blue, green and gold. The 34999 model is handmade using the lost-wax technique. Length is 9in, height 5in and weight 1.7kg. Price is $26 and MOQ 20 pieces. Delivery is within 15 days.

Tortoise paperweight

From Real Crafts, the Tortoise 4 Inch is a 130g decorative paperweight made of brass manually cast using the lost-wax process. The body of the tortoise has wire work. Length is 10.5cm, width 5.5cm and height 3cm. Price is $5.48, plus GST. MOQ is 25 pieces and delivery lead time 15 days.

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