Dokra Craft - Dokra Art Travels to London, Paris and Milan Fashion Stores!

Since time immemorial, Indians have associated particular tribal districts of Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh with the folk art of Dokra or Dhokra. Dokra craft is a type of metal craft falling under the genre of brassware handicrafts. And this humble Indian handicraft is now making its way to foreign shores and earning fame for itself on its own terms in the fashion stores of Paris, Milan and London.

Why has Dokra craft suddenly become so highly coveted?
The reasons for this are plenty. Dokra craft, just like any other type of Indian handicrafts, was dying a slow death. Even a few years back, it was difficult to find quality or even accomplished Dokra craftsmen and metal smiths.

The dearth or paucity of skilled labor resulted in dwindling supplies and the prices of the end products sky rocketed upwards. Naturally, the demand also went down because of the escalating prices. Even the designs and patterns on Dokra items had become outdated.

But there has been a turnaround for this industry, which was nothing short of a wonder. And this wonder has been brought about by latest and advanced technology, adoption of latest product designs and patterns and newness/innovation of motifs. The line of products has undergone sea change and there has been a sudden burst in manufacture of beautiful napkin rings, serving sets, good quality vases etc.

The proliferation of new design developments along with the latest technologies have enabled the Dokra craftsmen to bring out lines of Dokra products that are usable and which can be put to good use by clients in the contemporary world markets.

A new design artist called Mukul Goyal is helping out the Dokra craftsmen in their endeavor to develop altered and contemporary ranges of Dhokra art and Dokra craft. The Dokra craftsmen are also being helped by Mr. Goyal in the marketing of Dokra items in foreign markets. These people have together developed and brought out 10 new ranges or product lines.

Some of those items in the product lines are door handles, flower vases, napkin rings, lamps, food grade etc. There are however limitations to the art, as practiced by these Dokra craftsmen. All the Dokra art pieces are hand crafted, and so the finishing isn't of excellent quality. So, those Dokra products which have to be exported have to undergo detailing and final finishing by machines in some other place.

Dokra Craft - Dhokra Art of Bengal Unveiled For You

Dokra craft is tribal in origin - this is perhaps something that we are already extremely familiar with. Dokra craft is supposed to be cast in metal using the lost wax technique or cire perdue as it is popularly known in France. However there is something individualistic about Dokra craft.

Although Dokra figures and figurines are cast on metals like brass, bell metal etc, there is a hidden layer of clay core concealed within the mold. The most unique characteristic of Dokra craft is that you will never find two similar pieces of Dhokra art for each and every single piece is unique.

You will find Dokra/Dhokra castings in religious figures, tribal folklore symbols, religious figures and figurines, chains, lamps, lamp holders, religious animals etc.

Dhokra metal craft which basically has a tribal origin is abundantly found in the tribal pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Vindhya hills and in Bengal. In Bengal, you will find the Dokra kamars or metal smiths settled in the tribal belts of Midnapore, Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and Burdwan.

In Chhattisgarh, the Dokra artisans are settled in the districts of Bastar and Raigarh. The Dokra artists of Bastar can be distinguished by their use of coiled thread technique, not seen in any other Dokra settlement or Dokra figurines. The two places famed for being Dokra manufacturing units are Ushegaon and Chittalbori in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. The Dokra figurines of this region are characterized by uniqueness and individuality.

This individualistic touch is due to the hand crafted dexterity and skill that these Dokra artifacts boast of. However, although metal casting is used in Dokra craft, they are different from other types of metal craft. Although it is mostly brass scrap and bell metal that are used to manufacture Dokra craft, there remains a hollow core inside the metal casting consisting of a clay core.

It is a matter of grave concern that in spite of being an art form that involves high skill labor and out of the world creativity and in spite of its huge demand in international markets and among discerning art lovers across the globe, the government in India isn't doing much to encourage or patronize this slowly dying Dokra craft. But a strong demand in foreign shores has resulted in a new found resurgence and resurrection of Dokra craft in Bengal.