Traditionally the Gadwas, Gonds, and Dhurwas tribes of Chhattisgarh in India practice the Dokra art with lost wax technique or hollow casting.
It involves patterning a clay core intricately with wax ribbons and then coating it carefully with a mix of clay and hay. The wax is subsequently melted off, and the cavity formed is filled with molten metal – an alloy of copper and tin. When this solidifies, the craftsman reveals the beauty of his creation by cautiously breaking open the outer clay shell.
Inspiration for casting a unique piece of art comes from the abundant environment, be it the village ghotul, the myriad of trees, birds and animals, mythology, or rituals.