Handmade in India

DHOKRA - LOST WAX METAL CASTING
Production Clusters
Rayagada district :
Jigidihi
Phulbani district:
Podar Sahi
Cuttack district
Dhenkanal district
Dhokra, metal casting done by the lost wax process, is an ancestral craft practiced by the
Chitraghasi and Ghasi tribes. Molten bras is individually cast in a wax mould with an
inner core of clay and paddy husk. The inner core is coated with a smoother layer in order
to refine the shape. Beeswax mixed coal tar is drawn into fine threads and wrapped around
the clay model. A thick coat of coarser clay mixed with rice husk is applied over the wax
mode. The final mould is provided with a vent to a drain out the wax that is melted in a
furnace. Molten brass poured through the vent takes the form of the melted wax and the
clay mould is broken to remove the cast object. The special characteristic of dhokra is that
each object is individually moulded and cast; the cast form has the texture of the wax
threads.
Products
Andu - anklet
Khodu - bracelet
Harpajja - bangle
Goghuri - small bells
Angtha mudi - toe
rings
Guakati - nutcrackers
Mana - measuring
bowl
Dibbi - kerosene
lamp
Karat - coin bank
Jagar - lamp
Pendants, Necklaces
Vegetable knives
Inset : Pendant of a necklace made by the lost wax casting technique.
1. A clothes hanger, shaped like the head of a cow.
2. Figurine of a tribal man.
3. Dhokra figure of a woman giving birth to a child.
4. Bell used in temples and also around the necks of animals.
5. Sickle with a handle made in dhokra casting.
Tools
Tessa - baddi - choki
for wax threads
Birsa - weighing
machine
Hotta - beather
Pedda - wooden
plank
Churi - knives
Kanthi - tools to
make patterns on wax
Ukha - iron files
Markhu - blower
Butt - wire brush
TRIBAL ORNAMENTS
Tribal communities have a great love for adornment that is
expressed in ornaments worn during religious festivals and
important social occasions. The ornaments are usually made
from brass, which is cheaper and easily affordable. The
craftsmen who make these ornaments belong to the traditional
goldsmith community known as Sonar. Other communities
like Bhotia and Bhat also make them. The ornaments are
fashioned by hand or in a mould. Design moulds or korli are
available in the market with which designs are embossed on
brass sheets and then used in making pendants and rings.
Ornaments are also made by the lost wax casting or dhokra
method. The ornaments have a consistent demand locally and
at the weekly haat, market, while the demand is particularly
high during trival festivals like Mondie, Diyali and Gundicha.
1. Dhokra necklace
2. Detail of dhokra necklace
3. Dhokra hairpins made in Jigidihi, Rayagada district.
Products
Lobankhari - rose
rings
Beseri - nose rings
Jaali phuli - earrings
Saada phuli - simple
earrings
Jhika - elongated
earrings
Ginni maali -
necklace
Dhaan maali -
necklace
Baari - simple
earrings
Production Clusters
Nawarangpur
district:
Taragaon, Pilika
Tools
Mutla - hammers
Chimta - tongs
Samna - tweezer
Daagal - platform
Blow lamp
Kotri - scissors
Korli - dies or moulds
Channi - chisels
Khutua kari - small
chisel
Duboo - die for silver
balls
Ootungi - small
hammer
Solka khari - thin
long needle
Chipna -small chip
Chanch kahri - die for