The Bell Metal Handicraft is a metal casting technique and believed to be to oldest one. This craft belongs to the primeval times of the Mohenjodaro and Harrappa since the metal objects used in the preparation of the products are akin to that of the earliest civilizations.
Some areas where Bell Metal Handicraft is most widely practiced are the areas of Lalitpur, Raigarh and Sarguja. The Ghadwa community of Chhattisgarh is known to be the expert in this particular craft. Many products are made from such art such as vessels, jewellery and the images of the local deities. The method of preparation of the products is quite simple and also called as the lost wax technique that happens to be perfect for the tribal settings.
The Bastar district specializes in the preparation of items from the Bell Metal Handicraft. This process calls for a great deal of precision and skill. The artifacts prepared from Dhokra technique of this art use the cow dung, paddy husk and red soil in the preparation, beeswax being the most important one. Apart from contouring, wax wires are also used for decoration purpose and for giving a finishing touch to artifacts. From the Bell Metal Handicraft of Chhattisgarh in India, the real genius and creative faculty of the artisans come into picture and thus make for some of the most wonderful pieces of art.
The Bell Metal Handicraft can be found all over the world but the way in which the artisans of Chhattisgarh carve the things by the impression of their sheer dexterity is worth watching. Some of the handicraft items are so appealing that the tourists take them back as souvenirs.