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Strung close to the throat, this Dhokra bead choker gathers small brass beads that were each cast one at a time in Bastar. The lost-wax method gives every bead its own slightly uneven face, so the row catches light differently along its length and never reads as machine-made. It sits high. Wear it with a boat neck or a bare collarbone, and let the warm brass rest against the skin.
Durable and artisan-made; handle with care and keep away from moisture to prevent tarnishing Avoid contact with water and perfumes. Spot clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Each piece is handcrafted, so slight variations in colour, texture and dimension are natural and celebrate its handmade origin.
A choker lives on the neckline it sits above, so this one styles around what you leave bare. It wants space. Keep the collar open and let the beads read.
Everyday: Pair it with a boat-neck top or a scoop tee in a plain colour, where the raw brass stands out against solid cloth and the row stays the one thing people notice at your neck. A high bun or short hair keeps it visible. Nothing else needed.
Fusion: Worn over an off-shoulder blouse or a linen shirt left open at the collar, the bead row becomes a single clean line of brass on bare skin, which is exactly where dhokra moves so easily between Indian and western dressing. Skip a second necklace.
Occasion: For a saree or a festive kurta, a boat or round neckline gives the choker room to sit high and catch the light. Add small brass studs rather than long jhumkas, so the eye stays at the neck. It suits griha pravesh and Diwali evenings.
Necklines to skip: A deep V, a buttoned collar, or a heavy dupatta crowds a choker and hides it. Give it an open neck.
Wearing care: Brass darkens with skin oils and air, which many people read as patina rather than wear. Buff it with a dry cloth after wearing and keep water and perfume off the beads. Store it flat. A soft pouch stops the beads from scratching.
Every bead on this choker is cast on its own, not cut from a strip. Bastar's Ghadwa metalworker families shape the dhokra form the way the region has for generations, one bead at a time. Strung together, those beads make a single fitted row.
Core and coil: The artisan rolls a small core from clay and river sand, then winds fine beeswax thread around it, turn after patient turn, until the bead swells into the shape it will keep once the metal arrives. The coil lines you can feel are the maker's own hand. Every bead starts as wax.
The mould: A layer of clay is packed over the wax and left to dry hard. Heated, the wax melts and drains away through a narrow channel, which is the step that gives the whole craft its name, lost-wax, or cire perdue in the older books. A hollow shell is left behind.
Metal and break: Molten brass is poured into the shell and left to cool. The clay is then cracked open to free the bead, so each mould gives exactly one and can never be used again. Nothing is cast twice.
Strung to a choker: The cast beads are filed, cleaned, and rubbed until the brass warms to a soft gold, then strung to a short choker length and spaced so the finished row curves close against the base of the neck. Small differences from bead to bead are the mark of hand casting. They are not a fault.
The Bastar Dhokra tradition holds a Geographical Indication granted in 2008 (see ipindia.gov.in/gi); for this specific piece, please refer to the product specifications for its stated origin and metal.
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Dhokra is an ancient metal craft from India’s tribal regions, including West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Practiced for over 4,000 years, it follows traditional lost-wax casting techniques.
