brass dhokra deer

Dhokra metalwork: 4,000 years of tradition in your living room

Dhokra is part of an ancient metalworking tradition that dates back to the Indus Valley civilization. Today, Dhokra artisans are reinventing their craft to create refined yet unmistakably 'tribal' decor pieces for admirers of the ethnic-chic aesthetic.



The Lost-Wax Technique

Dhokra (also spelled 'Dokra') metalwork uses the lost-wax technique of metal casting, largely unchanged since it was used to make artifacts found in Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (such as the famous Dancing Girl).

Lost-wax casting involves making the desired shape out of wax, covering it with clay and then baking it. The molten wax flows out, leaving a hollow clay mould, which is then filled with molten metal. The mould is then broken open to reveal the metal artifact that has taken on the shape left by the wax.

This is a time-consuming and labour-intensive process, since every piece must be made from scratch. On the other hand, this also means that no two pieces are alike, and that every piece is unique.


Each wax pattern (like this butterfly) is made by hand from scratch before being covered in clay and baked.


The Dhokra Tradition

The craft of Dhokra metal casting gets its name from the Dhokra Damar tribes of Odisha and West Bengal, known for their refined and detailed work. Many Dhokra artifacts are also made in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, though using a slightly modified technique.

Some Dhokra work is also done in Madhya Pradesh, and even further south in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala, by tribespeople who have migrated there over the centuries.

Traditionally, Dhokra metalworkers would make a whole range of items, from the religious and the ceremonial to the decorative and the utilitarian. Today, however, most Dhokra artifacts are decorative pieces depicting gods, goddesses and animals, and figurines of tribespeople going about their everyday lives.

Dhokra hanging decor
A set of Dhokra wind chimes in the form of dancing tribespeople


The Dhokra Metalworking Process

The first step in the process is to create the 'pattern', i.e. the shape that the final product should look like. In the Dhokra metal craft, the pattern is made from a mixture of beeswax, resin and nut oil. This wax mixture is shaped into long, flexible threads that are used to create the shape. Traditionally, a piece of solid clay is used as a core around which the shape is built, but some Dhokra artisans prefer using a solid piece of wax instead.

Once the wax 'pattern' has been made, it is covered with layers of clay, usually with openings for the molten wax to flow out. This lets the molten wax be collected and reused, though some Dhokra clusters don't do this.

The clay-covered wax pattern is then baked in a rudimentary kiln, which hardens the clay and melts the wax, leaving a hollow clay mould. Molten metal (usually some combination of copper, zinc, nickel and tin) is poured into the mould and left to cool, taking on the shape left by the wax.

Lastly, the baked clay is removed to reveal the metal artifact, which is then polished into its final form.


Each of our Dhokra pieces starts off as a concept drawing, like this bumblebee

 


The wax pattern taking shape

 


The wax bumblebee is ready to be covered in clay to make the mould

 

Insects Decor
The final metal bumblebee becomes part of our Dhokra collection

 


How to Tell Where Your Dhokra Artifact is From

With Dhokra artisans working in so many pockets across the country, how do you know where a particular piece has been made? While its difficult to pinpoint the exact place an artifact is from just by looking at it, our artisans say you can broadly identify the state in which it was made.

The wax pattern for a Dhokra item is usually made in two layers: a base layer that is pressed onto the central core to form the basic shape, and a top layer that is used for the finer details. Artisans from Jharkhand and Chattisgarh tend to form the base layer out of solid, plain wax, and use fine strings of wax for the detailed top layer. On the other hand, those from West Bengal and Odisha prefer to shape even the base layer out of the strings.

So there you have it: If your Dhokra piece has a smooth base layer, it's probably from Jharkhand or Chattisgarh. But if it has a detailed base layer with lots of lines, its probably from West Bengal or Odisha.

And if your Dhokra artifact is a metal version of the terracotta Bankura horse, it's almost definitely from West Bengal.


The underlying shape of this figurine is smooth, with details added on top, indicating it was probably made in Jharkhand or Chattisgarh.
(Credit: Nomadic Decorator via Pinterest)

The underlying shape of this figurine has been created out of strings of wax, which means it was probably made in Odisha or West Bengal.
(Credit: Indianroots via Pinterest)


From Ancient Times to Modernity

Dhokra as metalworking craft has survived for over than 4,000 years, with its roots in the Indus Valley civilization, and spreading across India from there.

Today, this ancient metal casting technique has evolved into an art form, and found a new following in those who appreciate its combination of the rustic and the refined.

Take a look at our Dhokra collection


 

Sources

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