Creation of a Legacy with Layers

The creation of traditional crafts in India has followed an empirical pattern, using more of a trial-and-error technique and crystalizing the one method that has worked out. One such traditional crafting style is the ‘lost-wax technique,’ also known as cire perdue in French which has been practiced not just in ancient India, but other parts of the world like Egypt and Greece.

This non-ferrous technique of metallurgy is commonly found in tribal belts of Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. The Dhokra craftsmen have been excelling in the art for a long time as the knowledge and technique have been passed down to them through generations. In addition, they have honed their skills with continuous practice and experimentation.

The fascinating method of creating Dhokra jewellery, home decor products and other accessories goes through the process of creating multiple layers. These layers create magic by giving shape, detail, design and intricacy to the final product. Here are the steps by which a Dhokra product is created -

1. Creating the core - A core, slightly smaller in size than the desired product, is created with the help of coarse clay. This core must closely resemble the product that the artist wishes to create. Once it has been shaped, the core must be dried either in the sun or an oven (if available).

2. Getting the details in place - Next the artist gets the opportunity to express his creativity. The core is layered with clay again and all the fine details are assembled either by using strands of beeswax around the clay core or by carving them directly. In Jharkhand, however, Dhokra artists use coal tar as an alternative to beeswax.

3. Constructing the mould - Once the details are ready, another thin layer of fine wet clay is put over the core. The purpose of this layer is to imprint the designs on to it. After sun drying this layer, more layers are added on to the product, making it hard and thick. The mould is now ready.

4. Losing the wax - Lost-wax technique derives its name from this very step as the mould is heated with caution, so that the wax flows out. What is left behind is a cavity within which the metal will be poured.

5. Casting the metal - It is now that the dhokra artist must don the role of a metalsmith. The metal (bronze, brass or even scrap metal sometimes) is molten in a furnace and then carefully poured into the cavity of the mould. This step can be challenging as the temperatures tend to surge exponentially.

6. Breaking the mould and giving the final touch - The mould must be left to cool immediately. On several occasions, artisans submerge the mould into cold water. Later, the mould is carefully broken, revealing the final product. Traces of clay, wax or mud are then cleaned and the artefact is ready to be sold or displayed. 

Since the production process can be time consuming and requires to be carried out in multiple steps, entire family units are seen working together. Children of the family are trained early on to create Dhokra handcrafted products, through simple processes like imitation or instruction.

To incentivize the efforts of these artisans, it is important to give their work a respectable stature in the society, whether it is by purchasing Dhokra accessories online or by giving them due credit.