Ascetic Inspiration

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Item Code:	XO70
Specifications:	Copper Sculpture
Height:	6 inch
Width:	4.4 inch
Depth:	4.3 inch
Weight:	1.08 kg

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The subject of this evocative composition is Milarepa, one of the greatest saints of Tibet. Milarepa is known for his exceptional asceticism, made obvious here by the prominent rib cage. The lack of skin on his limbs, depicted vividly through vertical grooves, is another indication of severe asceticism. The face itself is so emaciated that the eyes seem to pop out from their sunken sockets, which along with the brittle teeth displayed in the open mouth give an almost ghastly look to this greatest amongst greats.

Milarepa’s cheeks too are depressed, giving a certain prominence to the sharp chin. Overall the statue follows the conventional iconography of Milarepa, who is visualized as a youthful figure with boyish, long hair. He is seated like a yogi on a deer skin placed on a craggy mount. The most important part of his iconography, his hand held at the right ear, is also present here. This symbolizes that the most important teachings can only be gained by listening and following the instructions laid down in the oral tradition.

It is often said that whether it be a painter or sculptor, the true measure of his skill lies in the manner in which he depicts the fingers. On this criterion alone can the sculptor of this excellent portrait qualify as a master-craftsman. Milarepa’s fingers here have been rendered extremely realistically, so much so that, being extremely thin due to his severe asceticism, they seem to zoom out to meet the equally finely rendered toes.

Milarepa wears only one garment, to retain his modesty just below the prominent navel centred on his sunken stomach.

This great saint inspires us to lead a life of sacrifice and not one of consumption.

This sculpture was cast in Nepal using the lost-wax process and then bathed in 24 karat gold using the age old technique of gilding.

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.