Every time I visit the Dokra artisan I discover new possibilities and new methods that they are adopting to make better products. The pleasant weather at my hometown (Bankura) makes it a great outing too.
A group of 60 Karmakar families live on outskirts of Bankura, making beautiful Dokra artifacts with one of the earliest known methods of wax casting. This craft started with making of Godess Lakshmi , worshipped by people of all communities."Lakhi Saaj" as they call it .
Settled for past 60 years, they generally make religious figures, tribal figures, animals like horse, elephant, tortoise, peacock.
My visit was aimed at looking at the progress of the orders I had given the artisan. It gave me immense satisfaction to see artisan involved in various activities for creating Miharu Products.
Wax strips are used to make intricate designs. Here u can see the artisan working on details of the
"Moustache Wall Hooks".
Here the wax details of contemporary wall hook are being done.
After completion of wax details it is covered with layers of clay which takes the negative form of the product that is to be created.
When designs of a certain products are repeated, Plaster of Paris is used to make the basic mold and many clay figures made from them before the wax designs are made on it.
This is Shell shaped locket design made from plaster of paris.
A artisan holding wax model of Ganesha.
Artisan involved in making of parts of a rickshaw with Ganesha sitting on it and being drawn by a mouse.
Basic figure of an elephant made in clay and thereafter coated with wax threads.
This is an example of solid casting , where a clay core is not used, instead a solid piece of wax is used to create the mold. Here is Dokra Clock from MIHARU .
At Miharu we continue to work with artisan, provide them a new window to the world. Anybody interested in knowing more about this craft, visiting the artisan may can mail us at bengalcraftmart@gmail.com
A group of 60 Karmakar families live on outskirts of Bankura, making beautiful Dokra artifacts with one of the earliest known methods of wax casting. This craft started with making of Godess Lakshmi , worshipped by people of all communities."Lakhi Saaj" as they call it .
Settled for past 60 years, they generally make religious figures, tribal figures, animals like horse, elephant, tortoise, peacock.
My visit was aimed at looking at the progress of the orders I had given the artisan. It gave me immense satisfaction to see artisan involved in various activities for creating Miharu Products.
Wax strips are used to make intricate designs. Here u can see the artisan working on details of the
"Moustache Wall Hooks".
Here the wax details of contemporary wall hook are being done.
This is Shell shaped locket design made from plaster of paris.
The entire family helps in making of the products.
The mother singing to the crying baby as she also joins the parts of the wax figure to complete the product before it is coated with layers of clay.
Wax figures have primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form
This is an example of solid casting , where a clay core is not used, instead a solid piece of wax is used to create the mold. Here is Dokra Clock from MIHARU .
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