Dhokra Brass Parakeet

Dimensions: 6cm high, 3cm wide, 8cm long.
Code: METAL 3921

This charming, handmade, brass parakeet is a dhokra, lost-wax, metal casting from the coastal state of Odisha (Orissa). The parakeet is associated in Hindu mythology with Kama, the god of love. The ancient art of lost-wax casting dates back nearly 5000 years in India and differs in style according to region. In the dhokra style the artisans first make a clay core in the basic shape of the final object. Next this is covered in threads of beeswax, which is mixed with resin from the sal tree. Everything is then encased with layers of clay, thus becoming a mould for the metal that will be poured inside it. Once the metal hardens, the outer layer of clay is smashed, which is what makes each piece unique.