Dokra Craft - What Are the Steps Involved in Giving Shape to Dokra Craft?

The process in which Dokra craft or Dhokra figurines are made is just fascinating. At first the Dokra craftsman will create a clay core, dry it and add designs, patterns, expressions, decorations and wax channels to that clay replica.

Step # 1

The Dokra craftsman will now use an extremely fine layer of wet clay and coat the replica with a very thin layer. Then this replica will be left in the sun to dry. And after being sun dried, the Dokra artist will add a few more layers of clay to it. Now the mold is completely ready for use.

It is now the turn of the Dokra craftsman to transform himself into a metal worker. He will now add a clay funnel to the apparatus so that the molten metal can flow inside the mold.

Step # 2

The artisans will now heat the mold very carefully. This will result in the melting of the wax and soon it will get lost. That is why it is called the technique of lost wax. When the wax is completely lost, it leaves a gaping cavity behind.

Step # 3

Now the artisans will actually cast the mold in the furnace. The artisans fill the cavity with metal that is molten and then they leave the mold and let it cool by itself.

Step # 4

The last step is pretty elaborate. The Dokra artisan breaks the clay mold and takes out the artifact in order to clean and polish it. The new artifact that you are beholding is novel for metal scrap has been used to give birth to it. The reason why Dokra craft is often classified under brassware handicrafts is because Dokra artisans sometimes consider to work with bronze which is an alloy made out of tin and copper or with brass which is an alloy of zinc and copper.

And they call it bell metal when the percentage of tin in the alloy is really high. There is a difference between the art of pottery and the art of Dhokra. Potters usually reserve the turning of the potter's wheel for the men folk as it is a heavy task.

In stark contrast, both women and men can accomplish and perform all the necessary parts of the Dokra craft. Even the children of Dokra artisans are taught the finer nuances of Dokra art through instruction, imitation and hands on training.