Dhokra Craft: An Art Form That Needs To Be Kept Alive

The origin of Dhokra art is in the tribal region. This is perhaps which most people are familiar with. Dhokra art is metal cast by making use of lost wax techniques. There is something unique about the Dhokra art. The most unique feature and characteristics of Dhokra art and craft is, you will never find two similar pieces, and every single piece is unique from one another. One can find Dhokra art castings in traditional and religious figures, lamps, religious animals, lamp holders, figurines and tribal folklore symbols.

The process involved in designing of dhokra art is pretty much fascinating. At the initial stage, Dhokra craftsman ship creates a clay core, and then dry it and designs are prepared accordingly.

Step 1

The Dhokra art craftsman ship prepares an extreme fine layer of the wet clay and then coats the replica with a thin layer. Then Dhokra art replica will be kept under sun till it gets completely dried. Once it completely sun dried, artist will add few more layers of clay to it. Now, the mold which has been prepared is completely ready to use.

             Now it’s the turn of Dhokra artist to turn himself into Dhokra metal craft worker. He then adds clay to the apparatus. Then molten metal can easily flow within the mold.

Step 2

At the next step, artists are supposed to heat the mold very carefully. This in turn leads to wax melting and then it will be lost soon. That’s the reason why, this technique is called lost wax technique. When the wax is been completely lost, then it leaves a cavity behind.

Step 3

The Dhokra metal craft artists fill the cavity with molten. They leave the mold as it is and allow it to cool by itself.

Step 4

At the last stage, Dhokra artist breaks the clay mold in order to clean it and polish it. In fact, that’s the main reason why Dhokra craft is classified under brassware handicrafts since the artist’s works with bronze.

The strong demand for Dhokra art in foreign shores have resulted in its resurgence in Bengal.