Dhokra Brass Pot From Orissa - Ca 1920's

Dokra Damar tribes are the traditional metalsmiths of West Bengal. Their technique of lost wax casting is named after their tribe. The tribe extends from Bihar to West Bengal and Orissa; members are distant cousins of the Madhya Pradesh Dokras. A few hundred years ago the Dokras of Central and Eastern India travelled south as far as Kerala and north as far as Rajasthan.

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.

When finished the entire piece is coated with clay made from termite hills to create the mould. The mould is then 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.
When cool the clay mould is broken off exposing the cast bronze piece.

The casting is then cleaned and finer details are carved to finish the piece. This piece has developed a wonderful patina over time.

From India

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