The traditional metal workers of West Bengal are the gharua or the dhokra kumar tribes who are semi-nomadic and are related to the malhars of Bihar and the situlias of Orissa. They live in Bankura, Burdwan, Midnapore, and Purulia districts, all of which are close to the Chota Nagpur region of Bihar. They are all part of the same tribal group of that area. Their craftsmanship has a distinct and primitive folk style and include small images of Goddess Lakshmi, her mount, the owl, Lord Lakshmi Narayan riding on an elephant, and Radha and Lord Krishna in different attitudes. These images bring prosperity and happiness to the household shrines of newly married Hindu couples.

The lost wax process is used to cast hollow brass objects and images. The wax object is modelled in detail around a hardened clay core after which layers of soft, refractory material are laid over the wax model and hardened into a mould. The wax between the core and the inner surface of the mould flows out as the mould is heated and the molten metal takes its place and hardens between the core and the inner surface of the mould. The negative impression of the wax model in then got in all its detail. The outer surface of the hardened metal takes the shape and details of the original wax model with the core producing the hollow interior. These craftspersons have a unique sense of shape and surface decoration. All their products are embellished with fine linear decorations which conform to the general shape of the objects. The Goddess Durga in her avatar of Mahishasuarmardini where she slays the bull headed demon, Mahishasura is one of the main religious images which are cast.

Miniature images of gods, goddesses and decorative figures which are cast solid are also made by these artisans. The technique used is a fine-oiled, sand casting method where metals used are brass, copper, bronze, silver, and octo alloy (an alloy of eight metals --- gold, silver, copper, tin, nickel, zinc, lead, and iron). The metalsmiths of West Bengal who work with copper and its alloys are known as kangsakars or kansaris and while one group originates from the karmarkars or blacksmiths, the other originates from the pasana branch of sutradhars, the carpenter and wood-carving caste. Traditional metal ware is made by casting, forging, hammering or shaping. The metals used are copper and its alloys.

The kangsakars or bell-metal artisans make their wares from the kansa or brass alloy. Ceremonial religious ware is made from copper sheets, eating utensils are made of kansa, and utensils for cooking are cast in brass or shaped in sheet brass, copper, or iron. Surface decoration is rather rare in the utensils of West Bengal but very intricate workmanship is the hallmark of these craftsmen. While making these utensils great care has been taken to maintain the balance of the bases in order to give stability to them. The handicraft includes artistically shaped and decorated caskets, platters, cups, bowls and other items in silver, brass, and copper.

The inhabitants of the Chota Nagpur hill areas of Bihar and the western districts of West Bengal, the Adibasis, santhals, or mundaris, never use cast metal utensils. Instead, they make use of large well proportioned heavy metal bowl known as jambati, a heavy and deep platter for eating and drinking purposes, earthen pots, and beaten brass and iron utensils for cooking, drinking, and water storage. Cast brass household utensils consisting of cooking pots, bowls, storage pots, and a variety of interestingly shaped dishes and caskets are used for carrying and offering paan (areca nut and betel leaf combination).