The Seated Companions (Dhokra)

Cast using the Dhokra lost-wax tradition, this sculptural piece draws from one of India’s most ancient metal art forms practiced for over 4,500 years and deeply rooted in regions such as Bastar in present-day Chhattisgarh. We believe this is not a craft that was invented once, but one that has been continuously remembered.

The process begins with earth. Artisans combine clay with khuda a natural binding material—to form a pliable dough, which is shaped and sun-dried to create the core. Over this, warm wax is applied and drawn into long, deliberate strands that wrap around the figures, defining their posture and form. Finer details are engraved by hand before layers of red clay and khuda seal the structure.

When the mold is heated, the wax melts away lost to make space. Molten bell metal flows in to take its place. Once cooled, the outer shell is carefully broken, revealing a form that cannot be replicated. Each piece is finished by hand, bearing subtle variations that speak to the moment of its making.

The seated figures—elongated, unadorned, and composed , reflect a visual language shaped by generations of tribal metalworkers. They are neither symbolic nor ornamental. Simply present.