Lost Wax - Craft Documentation & Online Research Archive

Dhokra craft ~ Kondagaon

info_admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:35:22 +0000

This metal-casting tradition has not only been kept alive in Kondagaon, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, but artisans here have truly taken it to another level. The name Kondagaon may evoke the feeling of a small village, but it is, in fact, a town. Within Kondagaon, the area of Bhelwapadar is where most of the Dhokra artisans work.
As the craft flourished, many people became involved in different stages of the process. Yet, traditionally, it is the Baghels, belonging to the Ghadwa community—who have practised this art across generations. In Kondagaon, most artworks are inspired by elements of nature and tribal life. The socio-cultural narratives that craftsmen see and hear around them are beautifully sculpted using natural mediums, carrying forward both heritage and storytelling.

The post Dhokra craft ~ Kondagaon first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

Bell Metal ~ Tikamgarh

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 13:02:10 +0000

Reminiscent of the glorious lives of the Bundelas of central India that reveals the indulgences of a celebrated era, lost wax casting is a metal sculpting method in which a mould of wax is used for easy workability. Protected by a casing of clay or mud, the intricately designed hollowness it creates when melted away, is occupied by the molten metal to create fine pieces.

The post Bell Metal ~ Tikamgarh first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

Dhokra~Betul

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:58:27 +0000

Locally known as ‘Bharai kaam’, Dhokra is the art of sculpting brass using the ancient technique of lost – wax casting. Practiced in West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, this metal craft finds different forms of expressions in its pure folk motifs and figures within the different tribes.

The post Dhokra~Betul first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.