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www.AnEasternMasterpiece.com

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Amazing Value for Our Customers

An Eastern Masterpiece partners with buyers who are connoisseurs of the art forms that we offer. By restricting ourselves to these four specialties, we are able to offer our clients the very best values on the finest examples of these art forms. We operate efficiently and with a very lean profit margin. This enables us to offer our clients a great value on

amazing artwork that was once a privilege only royalty could obtain.

Original Art for Discerning Tastes

An Eastern Masterpiece enables clients to acquire amazing works of original art from India for fraction of what a re-creation would cost. We only sell pieces from the most talented artisans in India. Everything in our gallery took weeks to create and the larger pieces have taken months. Every piece is a Certified Original — they are all hand crafted

& thus there are no exact duplicates in existence.

Distinct and Unique Art Forms

We selected four of the premier treasures to share with you. They are all unique and, in our opinion, possess universal appeal.

An Endeavor of Passion

We have a passion for the incredibly rich heritage of Indian art & decor and want to share it with the world.

When was the last time a guest walked into your house and said...... WOW!

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An Eastern Masterpiece doesn’t just purchase art for the lowest price:

• OurpartnersinIndiahaverecruitedtheverybestartistsintheirfieldsandprovidedthemwithagreatenvironmenttocreatein.

• Asaconditionofdoingbusinesswithus,wedemandthattheyempowertheseartisanstodirectlybenefitfromthesaleoftheircreations.

• WemonitorthispolicybymaintainingawellstaffedliaisonofficeinIndia.

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.

We 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 TrehanGeneral Manager

Ethical Sourcing

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Dhokra ArtLost 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.

• DhokraArtiscreatedbyusingtheLostWaxProcess(CirePerdue).

• InIndia,thisprocessdatesbackover5000yearstotheIndusValleyCivilization.

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.

• Artistscreatedlargerartpieces

• Select buyers in India startedcollectingthesetreasures.

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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The Creative Process

The lost-wax method makes possible the casting of a sculpture with elaborate curves and great detail. Each elaborate and time consuming mold will only produce one piece, thereby ensuring that no two sculptures are exactly alike.

Molding the Brass

Once the design has been perfected in wax, a thin and delicate layer of clay (made of riverbed sand mixed with coal & dry sieved cow dung) is applied on top of the wax and Multiple holes are made in strategic locations on the mold to allow for the molten metal to be poured in and for the melting wax to escape.

After 7 or 8 days, another layer of clay is applied on top of the thin layer.

Another week passes while this layer dries then final layer of clay (made of sand taken from termite ant hills in the jungle) is applied and allowed to dry.

Metal wires are now tied around the whole mold so that it stays intact and clay funnels are attached to the openings in the mold to facilitate the entry of the molten brass and the exit of the melting wax.

The mold is then placed into an earthen furnace and allowed to heat while the brass is melted on another furnace.

The molten brass is slowly poured into the holes in the mold. As the metal flows into the openings;

• Thewaxthatisinsidetheclaymoldmelts.

• Thebrassreplacesit,assumingtheshapesandpatternsthatwerecreatedinwax.

The mold is allowed to cool for at least half a day, then the surrounding metal wires are cut off and the charred clay is either partially or completely removed from the sculpture.

The sculpture is polished and chiseled to achieve the appearance that the artist envisioned. The amount of finishing and polish varies significantly from artist to artist and a few of them even use herbal colors to paint their creations.

Use of the lost wax method is uncommon because:

• Itisincrediblytimeconsuming.

• Requiresagreatdegreeofskillandpatience.

• Eventhebestartistsloseapercentageoftheirattemptsduringthemoldprocess.

The intricate creative process described below can take as long as two months for some of the artwork that ‘An Eastern Masterpiece’ offers in our gallery.

The sculptor first makes a model of clay by combining the dark soil from their own farmland, cow dung, and rice husks.

The initial model is allowed to dry (about 5 days) and a second layer of clay is applied on top of the first layer. This clay is made up of fine sand gathered from the riverbank & mixed with cow dung.

After 4 or 5 days of curing, the mold is sanded down to an even surface and a layer of sap from the Silk Cotton tree is applied to the mold.

Bees wax is then used to create the intricate detials of the sclupture.

• Acoatofwaxisappliedinnarrowthreadsusingabambootubeorsomeothersyringelikedevice.

• The threads are used to create patterns,withthebestartistscreatingthemostdetails.

• Aheatedknifemaybeusedtosmoothcertainsectionsofthethread.

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ZardoziPremier & 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.

• EmperorsworeceremonialclothingmadeofZardoziandelaboratepanelswerehungonthewalls.

• Theirelephants&horseswereadornedwithZardozispreads&saddlesandeventheirweaponsweredecoratedwithZardoziart.

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.

Entertainment & Humor

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