Dokra Metal Crafts

Dokra Metal Crafts It is a tribal metal craft practiced in Jainoor Mandal, Adilabad District of Telangana. On the other hand, the design and also the workmanship of this artisan community changes in various states. Dhokra or Dokra, is also called bell metal craft. The village is situated about 59 km from Adilabad district headquarters and almost 264 km from Hyderabad. In Telangana, they are also known as Ojjis who create metal metal art items using the complicated but the ideal lost wax method for casting of the metal. The technique of lost wax casting has been practiced in India for more than 4000 decades and even to this day, it is in use by these craftsmen. This was clearly observed in the objects recovered from the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro. All these Dokra artifacts are mainly made in brass and are highly unique wherein the bits do not have some form of joints. The whole thing is totally handmade. The traditional designs are considered highly aesthetic in nature and also a collector's delight. The way of making Dokra is done by mixing the metallurgical abilities with that of the lost wax technique. The handicrafts are known for combining the metallurgical skills with wax method for producing artefacts of distinctive look and attractiveness. The lost wax procedure is another form where the mould is used only once and broken, making the figure one of its kind in the handicraft market. There are two procedure for lost wax casting. The first one is Solid casting which is the process adopted in the South and hollow casting, practiced in different states. The hollow casting method uses clay center method, treated as the conventional method. There are approximately 50 families in Adilabad district that are proficient in this ancestral craft, which can be a labour intensive work. Within this process, firstly the hollow cast is used for producing clay center that would specify the method by which in which the object is made. The core is further filled with bee wax and resin etc.. This wax is additional shaped while finer details are created with proper embellishments. This job is mainly determined by the carver's skill, which is then covered with clay and you will find drains made on the mould so thatthe wax can be drained after the mold is heated. The wax is replaced next by molten gold, brass, bronze or silver that's left for hardening within the mold. The mold is subsequentlychipped away for retrieving the thing inside. Finally it is polished and the final product is set on display. Dhokra is deemed highlylabour intensive because even a simple piece takes 4-5 days whereas the complicated designs might need 2-3 weeks. The designs produced are metal figurines, elephants, folk motifs, peacocks, horses and additionally household articles like measuring bowls. The job is popular across the national and global markets on account of the aesthetic and crude simplicity. The work mainly includes folk themes, peacocks, horses, elephants, lamp caskets along with other easy traditional designs. Dhokra represents the exquisite variety and glory of Telangana's handicrafts.

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