Vidya Dhokra Brass Woman Figurine

In Bastar, Chhattisgarh, the lost-wax casting technique, Dhokra, has not changed in 4,000 years. A wax model is made by hand, encased in clay, heated until the wax runs out and molten brass is poured in its place. When the clay is broken open, the figure inside is unique. There is no other exactly like it.

Cast by tribal artisans in Bastar, Chhattisgarh using the lost-wax Dhokra technique, one of the world's oldest surviving metal-casting methods, continuous since at least the Bronze Age Harappan civilisation, this handcrafted figurine depicts a woman from the tribe that has kept this craft alive. She is not an abstraction. She is representation: specific, embodied, rooted in the everyday life and belief systems of the communities of central India.

The brass is heavier than it looks. That is the first thing. The second is the surface texture, not machined, not polished to a shine, but bearing the marks of the clay mould and the handmade wax original. Brass deepens with time, developing a patina that is not deterioration but accumulation. This is not a decorative object. It is a record.

Lost-Wax Dhokra Casting · Bastar, Chhattisgarh · Artisanal Brass · 4,000-Year Technique

Care Instructions

• Brass will develop a natural patina with use, this is not a defect, it is the object becoming yours.
• Hand wash only with mild soap and lukewarm water. Never put in dishwasher.
• Wipe dry immediately after washing. Do not leave wet.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners and steel wool, use a soft cloth only.
• Polish periodically with a brass-cleaning powder or lemon and salt to restore lustre.