What it is & legal status

• Traditional “lost-wax” (cire perdue) casting of brass/bell-metal and bronze; hallmark motifs of Bastar tribal life and nature.
  
• Registered Geographical Indication (GI): Bastar Dhokra (App. No. 83) and the Bastar Dhokra (Logo); both list Chhattisgarh as the GI area. The current consolidated GI register also shows these entries.
  

Techniques & materials

• Fully hand-modelled wax core and wax “filigree” threadwork → clay investment → de-wax firing → metal pour → break-out & hand finishing; each cast is one-of-a-kind (mould is destroyed).
  
• Bastar uses beeswax and local resins/clays; regional variants (e.g., Bastar vs. Sarguja/Raigarh) differ in the wax mix—part of the craft’s micro-regional identity.
  
• GI annexure descriptions emphasize bell-metal/brass alloy cast by lost-wax and the signature wire-work surface.
  

Trade classification (HS/ITC-HS)

• Typically exported under HS 8306 (statuettes & ornaments of base metal): 83061000, 83062190, 83062910/90—codes explicitly tracked by EPCH for handicrafts.
  
• Commercial references for 8306 mapping (statuettes/ornaments) are consistent across Indian trade resources.
  

Export context & destinations

• Within India’s handicraft basket, Art Metal Wares (the segment that includes brass/bell-metal handicrafts like Dhokra) reached ₹3,791 crore (~US$449m) in FY25 (Apr–Feb, provisional). Major markets include the USA, UAE, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France; UAE is a notable buyer of art metalware.
  

Cluster & capacity signals

• Core geography: Bastar/Kondagaon belt (Chhattisgarh). The district’s ODOP program highlights dedicated artisan villages and recent infrastructure/market-link measures (artisan repository, rural industrial parks, Amazon Kaarigar listings).
  

Quality & specification checklist

• Alloy & casting: clean pour; no shrinkage cracks; even wall thickness for hollow castings; hallmark Bastar wire-work texture without cold shuts. (Technique per Incredible India overview.)
  
• Finish: smooth filing, burnish/patina consistent; no loose grit from investment; stable base/stands. (Lost-wax flow detailed in technical and diagnostic studies.)
  
• Authenticity: vendor can reference GI registration/cluster provenance (Bastar/Kondagaon).
  

Compliance pointers (EU/US consumer markets)

• Dhokra is a base-metal decorative article: check REACH Annex XVII restrictions—especially lead (Entry 63) for consumer articles that may be mouthed by children; verify cadmium (Entry 23) where relevant; and nickel release (Entry 27) if any parts are intended for direct/prolonged skin contact (e.g., jewellery forms).
  

Bastar Wrought-Iron (Lohshilp) — Chhattisgarh

What it is & legal status

• Hand-forged, hot-worked wrought-iron craft (no casting/moulding): figures, masks, wall panels, lampstands—often with matte black finish and selective brass accents.
  
• Registered GI: Bastar Iron Craft (App. No. 82; Certificate date 10-Jul-2008), listed in the latest GI state-wise roll.
  

Techniques & materials (Bastar-specific strengths)

• Scrap/reclaimed iron heated in a small forge (dhukna sar) and hand-hammered to shape; elements are riveted/forged together; final filing and protective coating/varnish. Tools are locally made by the lohar community.
  
• The style is recognizably Bastar: stylized human/animal forms, tribal dance processions, hunting scenes; centers include Kondagaon, Umargaon, Gunagaon in Bastar district.

Trade classification (HS/ITC-HS)

• Commonly shipped under HS 7326 (other articles of iron/steel, n.e.s.); depending on end-use, some SKUs may classify under household/furniture headings (e.g., 7323/9403). Industry/Indian references map ornamental iron handicrafts to 7326.
  
• EPCH’s handicraft HS list (179 codes) covers metal homeware/furniture categories frequently used alongside 7326 for iron décor (e.g., 7323, 9403).
  

Export context & markets

• Bastar iron products are part of India’s broader handicrafts export (ex-carpet) basket reported by EPCH/IBEF; Art Metal Wares and Misc. Handicrafts together capture much of the wrought-iron décor trade outbound to the USA, UAE, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France.

Cluster & capacity signals

• GI submissions and sector documents note ~3,000 artisans engaged across Chhattisgarh in Bastar iron craft, underscoring meaningful production depth for export orders.
  

Quality & specification checklist (for sourcing briefs)

• Forge work: uniform thickness; crisp profiles; tight rivets/joins; no warping after cooling. (Process/QA per D’source & Incredible India.)
• Finish & protection: smooth filing; clean weld/forged seams; durable anti-rust coating/clear varnish; stable bases/hangers. (Finish practices described in Incredible India note.)
• Authenticity: proof of GI origin (Bastar/Kondagaon).
  

Compliance pointers (EU/US consumer markets)

• As with Dhokra, treat as consumer metal décor → confirm REACH Annex XVII compliance for lead/cadmium where applicable; if sold as jewellery/wearables, confirm nickel release within EU limits.

Buyer notes: positioning & differentiation

• Why India/Bastar: Two distinct yet adjacent GI-tagged crafts from one geography → streamlined vendor development with strong story value (tribal heritage + sustainable inputs: wax/clay/resins for Dhokra; recycled iron for Lohshilp).
  
• Design language: recognisable Bastar signatures (wax “filigree” on Dhokra; silhouetted iron dancers/hunters on Lohshilp) that read as handcrafted even at scale—popular with US/EU home-décor channels that IBEF cites as leading destinations for art metalware.

Quick product/HS cheat-sheet

• Dhokra statuettes, idols, décor → HS 8306 (e.g., 83062910/90).
  
• Wrought-iron wall art/candle stands/hooks → typically HS 7326; household/kitchen articles may fall under 7323; furniture items under 9403. (Confirm per SKU.)
  

Current export pulse

• FY25 (Apr–Feb, provisional): Handicrafts exports ₹29,391 crore (US$3.48 bn); Art Metal Wares ₹3,791 crore (~US$449m); top destinations include USA, UAE, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France; UAE highlighted for art metalware demand.