A lovely, unique curio depicting a seated lady holding a basket. 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 metal workers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal. Bell metal or Dhokra is one of the earliest known methods of metal casting. 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 is an alloy of brass, nickel and zinc that lends an antique effects to the castings.