The Guardian Ride

A bold expression of tribal mythology and storytelling, The Guardian Ride is a handcrafted brass Dhokra sculpture that captures a warrior riding a fierce, wide-eyed beast—part guardian, part companion. This piece is cast using the age-old lost-wax (cire-perdue) method, a hallmark of Dhokra metalwork that dates back over 4,000 years and is still practiced by tribal artisans in regions of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

The stylised, exaggerated form—seen in the animal’s expressive face, the rider’s upright posture, and the minimal but evocative detailing—are signature traits of Dhokra craftsmanship. Often drawing from folk tales, ancestral symbols, and everyday life, such pieces celebrate not just art but also memory, culture, and a deep-rooted connection to the natural and spiritual world.