Historically most of the craftsmanship in Odisha has been through visual art forms in stone and various other mediums such as the patachitra. Many of them are linked to rituals and social customs. Metal craftsmanship in Odisha can be seen in the large iron beams used in Sun temple at Konark, and traditional bell metal works. Small clay furnaces around Sambalpur in clusters that were home to the Agaria tribes who worked with fire and the use of the lost wax method are other instances of metalsmith's works in Odisha. In the context of this book, the word 'bronze' is used generically for metal sculptures made of different kinds of copper alloy and brass.
Literary and archaeological evidence has established that the art of casting metal images emerged to meet the needs for having idols at home and private altars. The metal idols grew in popularity as the ones sculpted on stone were too large for rituals like bathing and being carried for festive processions. The art diversified to produce offering trays, lamps and bells associated with the rituals. Bronze icons and artefacts cast in the lost wax method were the most popular in Hindu, Buddhism and Jain practices.
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