The Dholak musician statue

Music at the Bastars people

€99.00

This statue evokes the music which holds in particular a great place in the tribal ceremonies in India like in the Hindu rituals. More...

Height : 4.13'

Weight : 0.77 lbs

Tribal Art

Lost wax casting

Origin : Chattisgarh - India

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Description

The Bastars people

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

The tribal population accounts for 70% of the population of Bastar district: the main tribes are the Gonds - the Abhuj Maria and the Bhatras. Most of them have kept their traditions (cooking, clothing, festivals...) and their animist religion.

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

Some tribes have devoted themselves to brass statuary art for more than 4000 years. This art, also found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar... is called Dokra.

Dokra art

This traditional and artisanal art has not changed for millennia (more than 4000 years) and the technique used is still that of lost wax: a rough model in clay is made and then covered with wax by the artist who will give it its final shape with its details. The whole is again covered with a clay mixture and then heated in an open hearth where a copper alloy is cast. See Blog.

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

Posture Sitting up straight, in the typical Indian tailor's position. The drum is placed on the feet. The posture is comfortable and allows the musician to play for hours wherever he is.

Jewels This musician is adorned with a simple necklace adorning his chest. Several bracelets embellish his arms.

Face A simple scarf covers his head, enhanced by a headband.

This simple statuette gives us a direct view of Dokra tribal art: a representation of the essential moments of life, and music during religious ceremonies is largely part of it. No superfluous details, the essential is expressed in a few strokes to give a strong impression.