Bastar Woman with her kids Statue

Fertility

€390.00

The richness of the tribal finery, the importance of the family, fertility and a very pure style: the evocative force of this statue is direct and powerful. More...

Height : 11,02'

Weight : 5.07 lbs

Tribal Art

Lost wax casting - copper alloy

Origin : Chattisgarh - India

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Description

The Bastars People

Bastar is a district of South India in the state of Chattisgarh, it was an independent kingdom from the 14 ^th century until its integration into India in 1948.

The tribal population represents 70% of the population of the Bastar district: the main tribes are the Gonds - the Abhuj Maria and the Bhatras. Most have kept their tradition (culinary art, dress, parties ...) and their animist religion.

The tribes still live mainly from agriculture and resources drawn from the forest (hunting, medicinal plants, wood ...).

Some tribes have dedicated themselves to brass statues art for over 4000 years. This art, which is also found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar ... is called Dokra.

Dokra art: a thousand-year-old knowledge in the manufacture of statues

This tribal Indian art has not changed for millennia (more than 4000 years) and the technique used is always that of lost wax: a coarse clay model is made and then covered with wax by the artist who will give it its final form with its details. The whole is again covered with a clay mixture and then heated in an open hearth where a copper alloy will be poured. see Blog.

The objects produced by Dokra artists can be of usual nature: cup, candle holder ... musical instruments (brass), or artistic such as jewelry, animals: horses, elephants, turtles ..., statues of men and women representing scenes of daily life and Hindu deities adopted by the tribes: Ganesh, Lakshmi, ...

Posture Sitting carrying her 5 children in a posture symbolizing dignity and fertility. The gaze is distant, the bust very straight and disproportionate to the legs gives this woman an important presence. The five children, all the same size, seem very small. The mother gives an impression of strength and security.

Jewelry Impressive headdress typical of the Bastar tribes, traditionally made of feathers. Two necklaces: a large one traditionally made of silver and another made of choker pieces. A forehead band traditionally decorated with shells. Several earrings and nose rings.