Antique Bronze Dhokra Kondh Tribal (West Bengal) Ankle Bracelet Turned Dish 11cm Wide

ON AUCTION IS AN ANTIQUE BRONZE DOKRA TRIBAL ANKLE BRACELET TURNED OR REPURPOSED INTO A DISH OR ASHTRAY. THIS TRIBAL BRASS CAST KONDH (OR GOND) ASHTRAY IS AN ORIGINAL ANTIQUE PIECE DATING TO THE 19TH CENTURY.
 
THIS BRACELET TURNED ASHTRAY WAS MADE BY THE DOKRA DAMAR TRIBE FROM ODISHA (FORMERLY ORISSA), AN EASTERN INDIAN STATE ON THE BAY OF BENGAL, IS KNOWN FOR ITS TRIBAL CULTURES AND ITS MANY ANCIENT HINDU TEMPLES. 
 
INDIAN ANKLETS HAVE A RICH AND VARIED HISTORY DATING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS. HISTORICALLY, THEY WERE NOT JUST AN ACCESSORY, BUT A SYMBOL OF MARITAL STATUS, SOCIAL POSITION, AND EVEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. IN WEST BENGAL, THE TERM 'NUPUR' IS USED FOR ANKLETS, WITH THESE ANKLETS OFTEN FEATURING DELICATE WORKMANSHIP.
 
This anklet or dish is relatively heavy. It weighs 330g. It has been repurposed by securing each end with soldered tabs, and lined inside with copper.It is 11cm wide and 4.5cm high. The bead-like design is circles and scales on the top part, and vertical lined sections on the bottom.
 
PLEASE SEE PICS FOR CONDITION. THIS IS REALLY AN INTERESTING PIECE!
The lost wax casting technique used in Dhokra has been practiced in India since the Bronze Age. Dhokra art is used to make a variety of items, including ... tribal jewelry.
 
THIS CASTING IS MADE USING THE TRADITIONAL DOKRA TECHNIQUE. DOKRA DAMAR TRIBES ARE THE TRADITIONAL METALSMITHS OF WEST BENGAL. THEIR TECHNIQUE OF LOST WAX CASTING IS NAMED AFTER THEIR TRIBE. DOKRA - ALSO SPELT DHOKRA, IS A BRONZE CASTING MADE USING THE LOST WAX TECHNIQUE. THE LOST WAX CASTING TECHNIQUE USED IN DHOKRA HAS BEEN PRACTICED IN INDIA SINCE THE BRONZE AGE.
 
DOKRA LOST BEESWAX TECHNIQUE:
The object to be cast is sculpted from beeswax mixed with a little oil. When finished the entire figure is coated with clay made from termite hills to create the mould. The mould is then dried and fired in an oven with cow-dung cakes. The wax melts leaving an empty clay mould in the shape to be cast. The mould is then heated and molten brass or bronze is poured into the empty clay-mould. When cool the clay mould is broken off exposing the cast bronze figure. The casting is then cleaned and finer details are carved to finish the piece. The process is commonly known as cire perdue.
 
DIMENSIONS: 4.5CM HIGH 11CM WIDE
 
CONDITION: IN GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
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