G770.1 BRASS STANDING TRIBAL MUSICIAN

CENTRAL INDIA, BASTAR, CHHATTISGARH STATE

FIRST HALF OF THE 20^TH CENTURY

H. 39 CMS, 15 ¼ INS

A large and dramatic ‘Bastar bronze’ (actually brass made in the dhokra technique), in the form of a drummer with the head of a male deity, reminiscent of the Hindu god Shiva.

Dhokra is a non–ferrous metal casting technique using the lost-wax process. It has been used in India for more than 4,000 years and is still in use.

For some related examples see cat. nos. 337-339 in S.P. Gupta (ed.), Masterpieces from the National Museum Collection, National Museum, New Delhi, 1985. See also cat. no. 29 in K. C. Aryan, Indian Folk Bronzes, New Delhi: Rekha Prakashan, 1991.

Provenance: Private English collection.