Brass Bastar Elephant & Riders - Ca 1975

This Indian brass elephant figure featuring two riders under a parasol is from the Bastar tribes of Chhattisgarh and Bengal. This Indian figure features two riders, most likely Lakshmi & Narayana, the dual representation in Hinduism of Vishnu & Lakshmi

This Indian cast brass dhokra figure is almost certainly a reproduction dating to the 1970's. In Bastar culture, local gods & goddesses are worshipped taking inspiration from Hindu pantheon.

Dokra also spelled "Dhokra"- is a brass or bronze casting made using the lost wax technique. The process is commonly known as 'Cire Perdue.' The object to be cast is sculpted from beeswax mixed with a little oil. Once finished the entire figure is coated with clay made from termite hills to create the mould. The mould is dried and fired in an oven with cow-dung cakes. The wax melts leaving an empty clay mould in the shape to be cast. The mould is then heated and molten brass or bronze is poured into the empty clay mould. Once cool, the clay mould is broken exposing the cast bronze figure. The casting is then cleaned and finer details are carved to finish the piece.

References:
A similar example can be found at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery collection)
A similar older example can be found in Unknown Masterpieces of Indian Folk & Tribal Art by S Aryan & B.N. Aryan, fig 220.
Change & Continuity: Folk & Tribal Art of India by Brian A Dursam, fig 284.

From India

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