2. When was the last time a guest walked
into your house and said...... WOW!
An Endeavor of Passion Distinct and Unique Art Forms
We have a passion for the incredibly rich heritage of Indian art & decor and want to We selected four of the premier treasures to share with you. They are all unique and, in
share it with the world. our opinion, possess universal appeal.
Original Art for Discerning Tastes Amazing Value for Our Customers
An Eastern Masterpiece enables clients to acquire amazing works of original art from An Eastern Masterpiece partners with buyers who are connoisseurs of the art forms that
India for fraction of what a re-creation would cost. We only sell pieces from the most we offer. By restricting ourselves to these four specialties, we are able to offer our clients
talented artisans in India. Everything in our gallery took weeks to create and the larger the very best values on the finest examples of these art forms. We operate efficiently
pieces have taken months. Every piece is a Certified Original — they are all hand crafted and with a very lean profit margin. This enables us to offer our clients a great value on
& thus there are no exact duplicates in existence. amazing artwork that was once a privilege only royalty could obtain.
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3. Ethical Sourcing
An Eastern Masterpiece doesn’t just purchase art for the lowest price:
• Our partners in India have recruited the very best artists in their fields and provided
them with a great environment to create in.
• As a condition of doing business with us, we demand that they empower these artisans
to directly benefit from the sale of their creations.
• We monitor this policy by maintaining a well staffed liaison office in India.
The one exception to this is that our partners do not have an operational presence in
the remote jungles where tribal Dhokra sculptures are created. We source these from
the very best nonprofit organizations that are actively involved in benefiting the tribal
communities where these artists live and work.
W e hope you will share our joy as you explore our gallery. As we practice ethical
sourcing and uplift the craftsmen that we deal with, you can be assured that a part
of what you’re spending is going for a good cause.
Sincerely;
Sunil Trehan
General Manager
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4. Dhokra Art
Lost Wax Tribal Sculptures
What is Dhokra
The name Dhokra is derived from the Dhokra Kumar tribesmen who are the traditional
metal workers of the tribal communities in south central India.
• Dhokra Art is created by using the Lost Wax Process (Cire Perdue).
• In India, this process dates back over 5000 years to the Indus Valley Civilization.
The subject matter of Dhokra Art is derived from the experiences of the tribesmen and is
unique in its perspective – bear in mind that most of these tribesmen have intentionally
reduced their exposure to anything outside their simple and almost primitive lifestyle.
For the past few decades Dhokra Art was
primarily created for the tribal’s personal
use which made Dhokra Art an uncommon
art form even in India. A few years ago a
small revival began for the art form.
• Artists created larger art pieces
• Select buyers in India started
collecting these treasures.
In the western world, ‘An Eastern
Masterpiece’ is the first Gallery to offer
a diverse selection of larger pieces of
Dhokra Art.
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5. The Creative Process Molding the Brass
The lost-wax method makes possible the casting of a sculpture with elaborate curves Once the design has been perfected in wax, a thin and delicate layer of clay (made of
and great detail. Each elaborate and time consuming mold will only produce one piece, riverbed sand mixed with coal & dry sieved cow dung) is applied on top of the wax and
thereby ensuring that no two sculptures are exactly alike. Multiple holes are made in strategic locations on the mold to allow for the molten metal
Use of the lost wax method is uncommon because: to be poured in and for the melting wax to escape.
• It is incredibly time consuming. After 7 or 8 days, another layer of clay is applied on
• Requires a great degree of skill and patience. top of the thin layer.
• Even the best artists lose a percentage of their Another week passes while this layer dries then
attempts during the mold process. final layer of clay (made of sand taken from termite
ant hills in the jungle) is applied and allowed to dry.
The intricate creative process described below
can take as long as two months for some of the Metal wires are now tied around the whole mold so
artwork that ‘An Eastern Masterpiece’ offers in that it stays intact and clay funnels are attached to
our gallery. the openings in the mold to facilitate the entry of
the molten brass and the exit of the melting wax.
The sculptor first makes a model of clay by
combining the dark soil from their own farmland, The mold is then placed into an earthen furnace
cow dung, and rice husks. and allowed to heat while the brass is melted on
another furnace.
The initial model is allowed to dry (about 5 days)
and a second layer of clay is applied on top of the The molten brass is slowly poured into the holes in
first layer. This clay is made up of fine sand gathered the mold. As the metal flows into the openings;
from the riverbank & mixed with cow dung. • The wax that is inside the clay mold melts.
After 4 or 5 days of curing, the mold is sanded • The brass replaces it, assuming the shapes and
down to an even surface and a layer of sap from patterns that were created in wax.
the Silk Cotton tree is applied to the mold.
The mold is allowed to cool for at least half a day,
Bees wax is then used to create the intricate detials then the surrounding metal wires are cut off and
of the sclupture. the charred clay is either partially or completely
• A coat of wax is applied in narrow threads using
removed from the sculpture.
a bamboo tube or some other syringe like device. The sculpture is polished and chiseled to achieve
• The threads are used to create patterns, with the appearance that the artist envisioned. The
the best artists creating the most details. amount of finishing and polish varies significantly
from artist to artist and a few of them even use
• A heated knife may be used to smooth certain
herbal colors to paint their creations.
sections of the thread.
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6. Zardozi
Premier & Panel Embroidery
What is Zardozi
Zardozi is an art form that has existed in Southern Asia for almost a millennium, and
during most of this period it was a privilege enjoyed only by royalty.
• Emperors wore ceremonial clothing made of Zardozi and elaborate panels were hung
on the walls.
• Their elephants & horses were adorned with Zardozi spreads & saddles and even their
weapons were decorated with Zardozi art.
Zardozi is often called appliqué embroidery as it is a process that consists of applying
gemstones, precious and semi precious stones, and exotic threads such as metallic alloys
of gold and silver, and various other threads and materials used for adornment.
Artwork Subjects
Zardozi Panels rely more on the embroidery aspect of Zardozi and less on the ornamentation
aspect of the gemstones. These panels were traditionally crafted to depict classical
subjects in Indian art such as; wildlife, bouquets of flowers, and wedding processions.
An Eastern Masterpiece carries these traditional pieces along with contemporary designs
that we have had commissioned exclusively for us. These include designs of Indian origin
such as classical dance figures, as well as western themes such as ballet dancers and
golfer in mid swing.
Precious Gem Stones
According to Eastern belief, the gemstones
and precious/semi-precious stones each have
a quality and influence they bring to their
environment. Some of them promote good
health, others good fortune. Some will enhance
marital bliss while others will increase fertility
or the chance of success in a new venture.
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