This sinuous and dynamic sculpture, created in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ or lost wax technique of bronze casting, presents the majestic image of a dancing figure striking an iconic pose with her right hand raised up and her left hand hanging pendent. In her fluidic movement, we see her left leg outstretched, revealing her finely draped clothing. The ‘sthapati’ has meticulously detailed every single pleat, presenting in front of us an ornate vision of the ancient dancer that was highly respected in Indian households and temples. She is gracefully poised on top of a raised narrow pedestal.
Her idealised and curvaceous body is bejewelled with multiple ornaments, earrings, neckpieces, girdles, and tassels. In an unusual yet distinctly unique manner, her hair is styled in a bun against the side of her head, which adds to the intrigue and beauty of this ‘panchaloha’ image. In South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, this stylisation was a regular feature of a woman’s dress.
The notion of dance has had a powerful connotation in the mythology and reality of Hinduism. Shiva’s cosmic powers of creation and destruction are embodied in his magnificent tandava, just as Krishna’s mischievous yet righteous nature embodied his dance over the hood of the serpent Kaliya. The Natyashastra, our preeminent treatise on dance, has truly been foundational in philosophising about the celestial power and splendour of the act; this historical legacy in turn therefore makes such an image truly spectacular and visually iconic.
Eternal Brilliance Unveiled: The Mystique of Panchaloha Bronze and Artful Maintenance Rituals
Bronze is a metal alloy that has the primary composition of Copper and Tin. There is also an addition of other metals such as Manganese, Aluminium, Nickel, and some non-metals such as Phosphorus. This composition of several metals and non-metals makes Bronze an extremely durable and strong metal alloy. It is for this reason that Bronze is extensively used for casting sculptures and statues. Since Bronze has a low melting point, it usually tends to fill in the finest details of a mould and when it cools down, it shrinks a little that makes it easier to separate from the mould.
" If you happen to have a bronze statue, simply use a cotton cloth with some coconut oil or any other natural oil to clean the statue. "
A village named Swamimalai in South India is especially known for exceptionally well-crafted Bronze icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The skilled artisans of this place use Panchaloha Bronze for casting the icons. Panchaloha Bronze is made of five metals; Copper, Zinc, Lead, and small quantities of Gold and Silver. Zinc gives a golden hue to the finished figure and Lead makes the alloy softer for the easy application of a chisel and hammer. The common technique for producing these statues and sculptures is the “Lost-wax” method. Because of the high durability of bronze sculptures and statues, less maintenance is required, and can still last up to many decades.
Exotic India takes great pride in its collection of hand-picked Panchaloha Statues. You will find the murtis of Gods (Krishna, Hanuman, Narasimha, Ganesha, Nataraja, and Kartikeya) and Goddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Parvati), and Buddha statues. You can also buy Ritual paraphernalia (Wicks lamp, Puja Kalash, Cymbals, and Puja Flag) on the website. All these statues and items have been made with a lot of care and attention, giving them a flawless finish. Their fine carving detail represents the rich tradition of India.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist