The Union of Wisdom and Art

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Name: The Union of Wisdom and Art
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XM42
Price: 660.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$660

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Item Code:	XM42
Specifications:	Copper Sculpture Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
Height:	12.5 inch
Width:	8 inch
Depth:	5.5 inch
Weight:	3.18 kg

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The followers of Green Tara believe that her special powers will help them overcome dangers, fears, and anxieties, and that she will grant wishes. She is also believed to help one cross over from danger to safety or from suffering to happiness. Her femininity (signified by the two full-blown lotuses at her shoulders), imbues her with soft and compassionate feelings, and she acts very quickly and directly as a savioress. Representing active compassion, she is particularly worshipped for her ability to overcome the most difficult situations. As the first Dalai Lama puts it, just by being called to help, she instantaneously saves the faithful from attacks by the following eight calamities:

lions and pride
wild elephants and delusions
forest fires and hatred
snakes and envy
robbers and fanatical views
prisons and avarice
floods and lust
demons and doubts

The Dalai Lama further versifies:

On a lotus seat, standing for realization of voidness,
(You are) the emerald-colored, one-faced, two-armed Lady
In youth's full bloom, right leg out, left drawn in,
Showing the union of  wisdom and art -  homage to you!
Like the outstretched branch of the heavenly turquoise tree.

Your supple right hand makes the boon-granting gesture,
Inviting the wise to a feast of supreme accomplishments,
As if to an entertainment - homage to you!
Your left hand gives us refuge, showing the Three Jewels;
It says, "You people who see a hundred dangers,
Don't be frightened-I shall swiftly save you!"
Homage to you!
Both hands signal with blue utpala flowers,
"Samsaric beings! Cling not to worldly pleasures.
Enter the great city of liberation!"
Flower-goads prodding us to effort-homage to you!

... First Dalai Lama (1391-1474)

Wearing a five-crested crown, Green Tara sits upright on a double lotus pedestal. While her left leg is tucked in, the right is extended towards the viewer, signifying her ever-readiness to spring into action for the benefit of her devotees. The face is slightly squarish and the brows are well-arched. The two lids are wavy and flowing, like two, gently coursing rivers. The nose is equally sharp and together with the eyes and the well-defined, slightly thick, red lips, contributes equally to the introspective, self-contended character of the facial expression.

The conch-like, curving lines on her vase-like neck symbolize the sweetness of her speech. A goddess, she is not bereft of typical womanly charms which are further emphasized in no small measure by the elaborate ornaments adorning her. While a richly decorated collar enframes the neck, wider, longer necklaces extend a long way down, with one ending at her waist. The sculptor has managed to diffuse the form of the goddess with a certain amount of litheness, but certainly the overall impression is not one of lightness.

How are Nepalese copper statues made?

Nepalese statues and sculptures are best known for their unique small religious figures and ritual paraphernalia for over two thousand years. These are mainly cast in copper alloy. Nepal draws influences from the artistic styles of Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore the sculptors of the country specialize in making the icons of both these religions. Over the years, Nepalese sculptures evolved into their own distinctive iconography. Some characteristic features of these sculptures that differ from other pieces are exaggerated physical postures, youthful and sensual features, languid eyes, wider faces having serene expressions, and ornate flourishes. The Buddhist deity icons of Nepal have tremendous demand in countries such as China and Tibet for ritual purposes in their temples and monasteries.

Nepalese statues and sculptures have a high copper content and therefore develop a slightly reddish patina on the surface as they age. However, the most unique feature of Nepalese copper statues is their decorative detailing. The pieces are heavily gilded and sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones. This embellishment protects them from getting tarnished. The traditional lost-wax method for casting Nepalese copper statues remains the most practiced technique in Nepal for many centuries. This process involves many steps and requires skilled artists.

The first step in lost-wax sculpting is to make a wax replica of the desired Buddhist deity to be cast in copper. This replica is created by hand and therefore needs excellent artistic skills otherwise fine features will be lacking.

Once the wax replica is made, it is then coated with a special mixture of clay with a brush. This layer of clay is hardened when left to dry. A small hole is made on the base of the wax mould so that the wax flows away when it is heated.

At this stage, a hollow mould in the shape of the deity is obtained.

This is the time to pour liquid copper into the hollow mould which is then allowed to cool and harden inside a container of cold water. When the liquid metal has hardened, the mould is removed and the statue within is revealed.

The artist works on the details of the statue using various tools. It is then polished to get a shiny and lustrous surface.

Now comes the most important part of Nepalese art which is gold gilding. This is done by the traditional fire gilding method. A mixture of mercury and 18K gold is applied on the surface of the statue and heat is applied using a flame torch. The result is that mercury evaporates along with impurities, leaving a pure 24K gold finish.

The lost-wax method of sculpting is the most preferred technique

for artists to cast a metallic statue having intricate details. Since Nepalese copper sculptures require extraneous effort for giving a majestic look by adding special embellishments, it takes several weeks to complete one masterpiece. A 24K gold gilded copper sculpture retains its brilliant luster for many years and appears as like before. Nepalese sculptures continue to remain one of the finest specimens of the art of the East that have a strong aesthetic appeal that other sculptures cannot match.