DHOKRA ART
The Art of Dhokra also known as Lost Wax Casting Technique is an art of over 4000 years old. Oldest known Dhokra art is dancing girl sculpture excavated from Mohenjo-Daro. This art form is mainly found in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
Lost wax casting has two main processes: solid casting and hollow casting. While the former predominates in southern India, the latter in central and eastern India is more common. Solid casting does not use a clay core, but rather a solid piece of wax to create the mould; hollow casting is the traditional method and the clay core is used.
The first task in the lost wax hollow casting process is to develop a clay core that is approximately the final cast image shape. Next, a layer of wax, consisting of pure beeswax, tree resin Damara orientalis, and nut oil, covers the clay core. The wax is then shaped and sculpted in all its finer design and decoration details. It is then covered with layers of clay that take on the inside of the negative shape of the wax, thus becoming a mould for the metal that is poured into it. The wax is left with drain ducts, which melts away when the clay is cooked. Then the wax is replaced by the molten metal, often using brass scrap as the raw material base.The liquid metal poured in hardens between the mould's core and inner surface. The metal fills the mould and has the same shape as the wax. The outer layer of clay is then chipped and the metal icon or product is polished and finished as desired.
With the advent of time and technology this art form is being forgotten. To conserve this tradition and also the livelihood of the artisans who still practices this, we curate this art form and we have created beautiful necklaces and earrings with intricate designs and pattern engravings. Image Source : http://blog.directcreate.com/dhokra-the-art-of-lost-wax-casting
