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11" Copper Dharmaraja From Nepal

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Name: 11" Copper Dharmaraja From Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: NLH022
Price: 935.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$876.75

$1169

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

Only 1 available

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Specifications

	NLH022
	Copper With Gold
	Height: 11 inch
	Width: 7 inch
	Depth: 5 inch
	Weight 2.90 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Usually ships in 6 days
	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

Embodying Fierce Protection: The Dharmaraja Statue

This exquisite copper statue, gilded with radiant gold, depicts Dharmaraja, a powerful wrathful deity revered in Tibetan Buddhism. Standing at 11 inches, this masterpiece originates from Nepal, a land steeped in spiritual artistry and devotion. The statue is a profound representation of protection and the vanquishing of obstacles, embodying the fierce compassion that seeks to liberate beings from suffering through its resolute power. Dharmaraja, often seen as the King of Dharma, is a formidable emanation invoked to overcome inner and outer hindrances. He is particularly associated with the protection of oaths and the dispelling of negativity, acting as a spiritual guardian. In Tibetan iconography, wrathful deities like Dharmaraja are not figures of malice, but rather manifestations of enlightened wisdom that engage with negative forces with equal intensity to transform them. Their terrifying appearance serves to shock the practitioner into a state of heightened awareness and to confront their own inner demons. The imagery here, with its fiery aura and fierce countenance, is designed to inspire awe and a deep respect for the power of awakened consciousness.

Artistry and Symbolism

Crafted from copper and meticulously gilded with gold, this statue is a testament to the rich artistic traditions of Nepal. The choice of materials signifies purity and auspiciousness, with copper being a traditional metal for sacred objects and gold representing enlightenment and supreme value. The dynamic pose of Dharmaraja, astride his powerful steed, conveys immense energy and unstoppable momentum. His posture is one of action, of dominion over the forces that bind and impede spiritual progress. The fiery aureole that surrounds him is a potent symbol of wisdom's purifying heat, burning away ignorance and delusion. The intricate detailing on the deity's armor, adornments, and his fearsome expression, with its bared fangs and piercing gaze, are all deliberate elements designed to convey his unyielding strength and his role as a protector of the sacred teachings. The horse, another significant element, often symbolizes the swiftness with which the deity traverses the spiritual realms or the rapid dispelling of obstacles. Its energetic stance and wild mane further amplify the sense of power and movement within the composition. The overall aesthetic is one of vibrant intensity, designed to evoke a visceral response and to serve as a focal point for meditation and devotion, encouraging practitioners to confront and overcome their own internal and external challenges with the same resolute spirit as Dharmaraja. This statue is more than an object of beauty; it is a powerful spiritual tool, imbued with the essence of protection and liberation, brought to life by the skilled hands of Nepalese artisans.

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.