Dokra Craft - Human Civilization's Oldest Form of Non Ferrous Metal Casting

As you have learnt from the title, Dokra craft indeed ranks among the oldest and most ancient processes of metal casting of the non ferrous variety that human civilization is acquainted with. You perhaps won't believe it, but this type of Indian handicrafts or brassware handicrafts date back to the era of Indus valley civilization some 4500 years back.

The metal craftsmen of Mohenjodaro, one of the two most famous seats of the Indus valley civilization used to practice this type of metal casting using the technique of lost wax or cire perdue.

Dokra craft's popularity lies in its stark and primitive simplicity, primeval and rustic beauty, uniqueness of designs and patterns which have all drawn inspiration from indigenous folk culture. The Dokra tribesmen or metal smiths/kamars that live on the mineral rich soils of central India and are concentrated in parts of the Vindhya Range of hills, Orissa, west Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have specialized in this Dhokra art style.

You can even call these communities semi tribal instead of fully tribal. In Chhattisgarh, the districts where the dokras are settled are Raigarh and Bastar. The craftsmen in Bastar are famed and can be singled out for their use of the unique coiled thread technique that

you won't see in any other place in India. In Bengal these Dokra craftsmen are concentrated in tribal dominated districts like Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, Burdwan and Midnapore.

All these Dokra craftsmen living in different districts and states of India have their own unique individualistic traits and are distant cousins of each other. While the Dokra figurines of one region are stark in design, in another region, the hallmark of Dokra craft is expressive features while in some other area, Dokra figurines are characterized by plainness of designs.

There are also regional differences in the drying and firing techniques, the way the metal casting is done. An expert on Indian handicrafts or brassware handicrafts will be able to spot these regional differences and instantly say which Dokra artifact is from which region.

Cire perdue or lost wax process, very much in vogue in France, is not only implemented to manufacture brassware handicrafts, but also to cast a variety of noble metals, bronze, bell metal etc. We need to try our level best to preserve and encourage this high skill Dokra craft and restore it to its former glory.