Dokra Craft And Dhokra Metal Casting Of Bengal: Art In Excellence

In west Bengal, a culturally inclined state in the eastern region of India

, the traditional metal smiths are popularly referred to as Dokra kamars or the Dhokra kamar tribes. The technique of casting metal using the lost wax procedure which they follow to create beautiful pieces of art is called Dokra craft or Dhokra metal craft. As you can well guess, the name Dokra art has been derived from the name of the tribe.

What is the method of Dokra craft?

At first, the Dokra artist will start making the preparation of the wax image and the casting furnace. In order to give rise to the lump that is necessary, he has to mix together the resin or the dhuna and the wax with oil in correct proportions. Then the Dokra craftsman has to meditate with full concentration and visualize or envisage the image he has to make vividly.

When he is confident that he has envisaged the image thoroughly, he will try to create a model of the image in his mind in the lump of wax he has prepared. Once the wax image is complete, the artisan will try to purify the wax image with the 5 powdered pigments or pancho Varna.

Usually the wax model sports various component parts and joints and the Dokra craftsman has to reinforce those joints with nails or copper rods/wires. Then he will cover the wax model in a mold of clay.

After sculpting such a wax model which is a mimesis of the image the artisan has in his mind, and after covering it in clay mold, the Dokra craftsman will make a hole in the mold and pour down molten metal inside that hole. Then he has to dry the whole object either in a furnace or in the sun, apply a second thin layer or a coat of very fine clay and dry it once more.

The molten metal will flow down the wax channels and the wax will melt in the heat and disappear. Hence the name lost wax technique. When the object is wholly dry, the Dokra artist will break the clay mold to reveal the object and after some final smoothing and polishing and addition of expressive features and embellishments, the piece of Dokra craft is ready for use or sale.

by: Nantaram Orubenga

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