Industry

Lifestyle

Client

Madhya Pradesh Governemnt

Dhokra Lost Wax Casting • Sculpting Tradition

Dhokra Lost Wax Casting • Sculpting Tradition

Dhokra Lost Wax Casting • Sculpting Tradition

"‘Beauty cannot be achieved at the expense of people who are making them in inhumane conditions; beautiful objects must really be made in beautiful surroundings, by people who are living reasonable lives with some pleasure in them. Not the kind of lives these artisans are living in.’"

The Craft Cluster Initiative aims to empower young creatives to collaborate with artisans, elevating traditional crafts while preserving their essence. My contribution focused on creating products that seamlessly blend craft with utility, expanding their market potential beyond mere decoration. This approach strives to enhance artisans' livelihoods and uplift their quality of life, fostering a sustainable future for both the craft and the community.

The Dhokra process begins with a blend of beeswax and saras (gum), heated until it forms a thick paste, then strained to create fine threads. The pliability of natural beeswax facilitates shaping the threads into intricate forms.

Next, artisans fashion a mold using a mixture of mud and cow dung, around which the wax threads are delicately wound. After applying another layer of mud coating, the piece is left to air-dry thoroughly before being fired in a furnace. Once baked, the outer clay is removed, revealing the exquisite Dhokra masterpiece.


The Dhokra process begins with a blend of beeswax and saras (gum), heated until it forms a thick paste, then strained to create fine threads. The pliability of natural beeswax facilitates shaping the threads into intricate forms.

Next, artisans fashion a mold using a mixture of mud and cow dung, around which the wax threads are delicately wound. After applying another layer of mud coating, the piece is left to air-dry thoroughly before being fired in a furnace. Once baked, the outer clay is removed, revealing the exquisite Dhokra masterpiece.


The Dhokra process begins with a blend of beeswax and saras (gum), heated until it forms a thick paste, then strained to create fine threads. The pliability of natural beeswax facilitates shaping the threads into intricate forms.

Next, artisans fashion a mold using a mixture of mud and cow dung, around which the wax threads are delicately wound. After applying another layer of mud coating, the piece is left to air-dry thoroughly before being fired in a furnace. Once baked, the outer clay is removed, revealing the exquisite Dhokra masterpiece.