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Apsara

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$703.50

$938

25% off

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Specifications

	EP05
	South Indian Temple Wood CarvingArtist: Murugesan
	Height: 3 ft
	Width: 1.5 ft
	Depth: 0.4 ft
	Weight 13.50 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Usually ships in 40 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.

Celestial Nymphs: The Apsara

This exquisitely carved wooden sculpture brings to life the ethereal beauty and grace of an Apsara, a celestial nymph from Hindu mythology. These captivating beings are renowned for their otherworldly allure, their mastery of dance and music, and their roles as messengers and companions to the gods. Imagine this stunning piece gracing your home, radiating an aura of divine beauty and artistic mastery. Apsaras are often depicted as youthful and eternally beautiful, adorned with fine jewelry and graceful in their movements. They are commonly associated with water, creation, and fertility. In Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, Apsaras play important roles, often tasked with seducing sages to test their devotion or to carry out divine missions. Their enchanting dances and songs are said to be able to captivate even the most hardened hearts. The tales of Apsaras add a layer of mystique and wonder to Indian art and culture, making this wood carving not just a decorative piece, but a doorway into a rich and vibrant mythological world.

Crafted with Devotion

This magnificent wood carving, a creation of the skilled artisan Murugesan, is a testament to the rich artistic traditions of South Indian temple art. Measuring 3.0 x 1.5 x 0.4 feet, it embodies the essence of traditional craftsmanship, carefully rendered in intricate detail. Note the careful rendering of her jewelry, the flowing lines of her garment, and the expressions on her face. The base of the carving features intricate detailing, with rows of repeating lotus petals that evoke a sense of divinity and grounding. Each curve and contour is brought to life through painstaking work, creating a masterpiece that reflects both the dedication of the artist and the enduring spirit of South Indian art. The sculpture presents the Apsara playing a stringed instrument, perhaps a veena or a similar lute. This depiction highlights the Apsara's association with music and dance, emphasizing her role as an entertainer and a source of joy. At her feet rests a bird, a peacock or similar, that is also intricately carved. It acts as her divine companion, adding to the sense of magic, splendor and elegance that the piece as a whole evokes. Owning this piece is a statement – a recognition of art, faith and culture. It will be an enduring centerpiece in the home it will come to occupy.

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.

How to care for Wood Statues?

Wood is extensively used in sculpting especially in countries like China, Germany, and Japan. One feature that makes the wood extremely suitable for making statues and sculptures is that it is light and can take very fine detail. It is easier for artists to work with wood than with other materials such as metal or stone. Both hardwoods, as well as softwood, are used for making sculptures. Wood is mainly used for indoor sculptures because it is not as durable as stone. Changes in weather cause wooden sculptures to split or be attacked by insects or fungus. The principal woods for making sculptures and statues are cedar, pine, walnut, oak, and mahogany. The most common technique that sculptors use to make sculptures out of wood is carving with a chisel and a mallet. Since wooden statues are prone to damage, fire, and rot, they require proper care and maintenance.

Wood tends to expand and contract even after it has been processed, thus it is always recommended to keep the wooden sculptures in rooms with little humidity. Excess moisture can harm your masterpiece.

Periodical dusting of the finished piece is necessary to maintain its beauty as dust accumulation on the surface takes away the shine of the sculpture. You can use a clean and soft cloth or a hairbrush for this purpose.

You must avoid applying any chemical-based solutions that may damage the wood from the inside. Instead, you can apply lemon oil or coconut oil using a cotton rag to the sculpture to bring out its natural shine. Lemon oil also helps to clean any stains on the sculpture.

Applying a layer of beeswax protects the wood from sun damage and hides even the smallest imperfections on the wood.

It is extremely important to preserve and protect wooden sculptures with proper care. A little carelessness and negligence can lead to their decay, resulting in losing all their beauty and strength. Therefore, a regular clean-up of the sculptures is a must to prolong their age and to maintain their shine and luster.

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