Dhokra Metal Craft Curio - Tortoise. Dull Brass. Beautiful and rustic craft with its own unique, ethnic appeal. Dhokra is amongst the oldest traditional techniques of metal casting in India, practiced for over 4,000 years. The lost wax technique, cire perdue is the medium of metalworkers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal. This craft dates back to pre-historic times of the Harrappa and Mohenjodaro Civilizations. Entirely handcrafted, the unique 13 stage process of Dhokra/ Bell metal making is an outcome of the original craft instinct handed down through the centuries. Dhokra/ Bell metal is an alloy of brass, nickel and zinc that gives an antique effect to the castings.