📖 Origin & Heritage
Dhokra Art is one of the oldest known metal casting traditions in India, practiced by tribal communities across Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Odisha. It dates back over 4,000 years — the famous “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-daro is a classic example of this technique. The art is rooted in the lost-wax casting method (cire perdue), which involves making intricate wax models that are replaced by molten metal to form stunning brass and bronze artifacts. Known for their folk motifs, tribal deities, animals, and ritual objects, Dhokra pieces embody raw beauty and timeless tradition.
💡 Did You Know?
Dhokra art is entirely eco-friendly, made with natural wax, clay, and scrap metals.
The craft uses the lost-wax casting technique, unchanged for millennia.
The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro (2500 BCE) is the earliest example of this art.
Each piece is unique — molds can’t be reused once broken.
⚒️ Crafting Process
1. Wax Model: A figure is shaped in beeswax or resin, detailed with threads & designs.
2. Clay Coating: Layers of fine and coarse clay cover the wax model to form a mold.
3. Heating: The mold is baked, melting away the wax — leaving a hollow cavity.
4. Metal Pouring: Molten brass or bronze is poured into the cavity.
5. Breaking the Mold: Once cooled, the clay mold is broken to reveal the metal figure.
6. Finishing: The sculpture is polished, detailed, and sometimes darkened with patina.
✨ Features of Dhokra Art
Rustic Appeal
Each piece has a tribal, handmade raw beauty.
Each piece has a tribal, handmade raw beauty.
Tribal Themes
Depictions of gods, animals, humans, and ritual motifs.
Depictions of gods, animals, humans, and ritual motifs.
Lost-Wax Technique
An ancient casting method unique and non-repetitive.
An ancient casting method unique and non-repetitive.
Cultural Symbol
Used in festivals, marriages, and as sacred offerings.
Used in festivals, marriages, and as sacred offerings.