A Case Study on Metallurgical Aspects of ‘Dhokra’ Art: An Ancient Traditional Lost Wax Casting Technique of Cu–Zn/Cu–Sn Alloy

摘要

Abstract Dhokra art is an ancient traditional essentially stunning metal figurine fashioned from copper-based alloys using a ‘lost wax casting’ known as ‘cire perdue’ in French. Most of the Dhokra artefacts are lamps, chains, caskets, measuring bowls, human and animal figurines, images of deities like Goddess Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati, Shiva, Kartik, and Ganesh, etc. The famous and earliest known Dhokra crafts are the legendary Dancing girl from the era of Mohenjo Daro. This nomadic group ‘Dhokra Damar’ of people finally settled in the different tribal parts of Indian provinces like Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chattishgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The present study observed that the coal-based melting oven designs are way too old and also made of conventional clay. The coal handling and high smoke cause health hazards to the artisans and it also affects the environment. The study highlighted metallurgical shortcomings and the roadmap is portrayed to mitigate the existing drawbacks.