Lost Wax

Dating from the 3rd millennium BCE, lost wax also called cire-perdue is a method of casting metal in which molten metal is poured into a wax model. After the mold is made the wax model is melted and drained away, making each object produced a one-of-a-kind item. Used in every continent but Australia, it is still used in many cultures today with few changes. Dhorka metal smiths are famous for the lost wax techniques which date bask 4500 years to the Indus valley civilization.

Showing 1–12 of 34 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Brass Nandi, India (9509B-GAH) $155

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 3.5″  W: 1.75″  D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This finely cast antique figurine with finely articulated features portrays Nandi with jewels sitting recumbent on a high-tiered throne. Kneeling in reverence to serve  Lord Shiva he is a symbol of purity and strength. Small figurines were placed on home shrines with other deities and significant family items. Made using lost wax   it is a one-of-a-kind piece

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Bronze/Brass Nandi, South India (9510VHE) $395

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    H: 3.25”  W: 1.375”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This small antique brass Nandi is exquisitely handcrafted with a wonderfully aged patina. He sits recumbent on a raised rectangular platform. Delicately incised with decorative details delineating the head, neck, snout and body, his right leg and tail are sinuous, graceful ornaments rather than defining features. His head is at a 45-degree with lyrically curved horns in contrast to most versions with horns extending backwards. This Nandi is based on a South Indian cow whose humpback is emphasized here by two parallel lines covering it as if is part of a saddle or another ornament feature.

  • Sale!

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500A-WAH)

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 3.875” Dia: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metalsmiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for millennia. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms. This charming piece is a typical grain measure and has a handle for hanging and decorated with horizontal striations across the top and bordered by downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This bowl were regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

    Click here for the Blog Dhokra Metal Smiths: Retaining Primitive Techniques with Unfailing Success 

    Click here for the Blog Hindu Home and Temple Shrines and Religious Practices

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500D-JAH) $155

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 3.5” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

     

    Click here for the Blog Hindu Home and Temple Shrines and Religious Practices

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500E-NAH)

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 3.875” Dia: 4.125” | FREE SHIPPING IN CNTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Dhokra Brass Rice/Grain Measuring Bowl, India (9500B-VAH) $155

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 4.25” Dia: 4” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple  uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from  age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Sale!

    Antique Dhorka Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500C-VAH) $155

    Original price was: $155.00.Current price is: $131.75.
    H: 3.75” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, India (9526BEB) $365

    Original price was: $365.00.Current price is: $310.25.
    H: 13″  W: 8.5″  D: 4.75″  | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This graceful brass oil lamp is topped by two peacocks, a large one that held oil and a smaller one decorated with striated lines sitting high on a thin mount with a spiral base. It was used for Hindu prayer rituals (puja) in the home or at temples and for devotional worship. This fine lost wax lamp with a soft patina is a one-of-a-kind piece. Often used in Hindu religious sculptures, peacocks have a strong religious tradition and represent harmony, joy and beauty and the time cycle.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Kumkum Container, Nepal (1278XAE) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    H: 3” Dia: 2.875″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This  finely designed bronze kumkum container was used in Hindu worship (puja). It is a well-shaped ornamented cup divided artistically into three sections: a top flat lip surrounded by decorative bosses and parallel lines, and band of stylized leaves, and set on a tubular trunk on a decorative base.  Also known as chopra containers, they were made from a variety of materials, although bronze was rather rare and used by wealthy Hindu women and royalty to store tikka kumkuma powder, as the poor could only afford those made from wood or pottery.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Bronze Earth Witnessing Buddha, Burma/Myanmar (3553BLEM) $2575

    Original price was: $2,575.00.Current price is: $2,188.75.
    H: 22”  W: 17”  D: 11” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    This finely and delicately modeled vintage Burmese bronze Buddha Shakyamuni in the Earth Witnessing mudra displays many characteristics typical of the Burmese Mandalay style. His soft youthfully sweet face with slightly smiling lips is framed by a filet headband, snail like hair locks, and almond-shaped eyes are inlaid with glass. Made in the 20th century with the lost wax process in which the mold is destroyed, this piece is a one-of-a-kind exquisite work of art in excellent condition.

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  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Ethiopian Fleury Cross with Textured Surface (E338ZCE)

    Original price was: $175.00.Current price is: $148.75.
    Ht: 2.563″  W: 2.063″    | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This wonderful Coptic Cross is in the form of a fleury or floriated trefoil cross with the end of each arm splayed into three pointed lobes representing the Trinity. The body is embellished with parallel rows of small granulates which results in a vibrant textured surface. The chain is not included.

     

     

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Ethiopian Coptic Cross Pattée (E329QCE)

    Original price was: $175.00.Current price is: $148.75.
    Ht: 3.125″  W: 1.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique Ethiopian Cross combines several cultural traditions: an Egyptian round ankh surmounted on cross pattée with flaring arms that narrow towards the center. This striking pendant is heavy and large with a massive presence softened by its smooth surface and simple elegance. Prior to the 20th-century, pendant crosses were often made in small villages by skilled local metal smiths that were simpler, yet strikingly beautiful and powerful. The coin silver chain is not included.

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