unlike her usual iconography of sitting in laitasana posture with the veena in her two hands, this wooden sculpture depicts the Goddess in a dancing posture on a stylized double lotus pedestal supported by a thick circular base and her left leg is placed at an angle of 90 degrees supported by the right leg. Devi Saraswati is revered as the beholder of great knowledge, wisdom, art, speech and learning. Her divine beauty and grace are realistically captured in this sculpture, as can be identified by the soothing expression of her eyes and the delicacy of her smile. Saraswati is interpreted as ‘the one who realizes the essence of self’ and is a personification of the pure Saraswati River.
Carved here in superfine teak wood by expert artists from South India; she is garbed in an ankle length dhoti, decorated with horizontally styled layers of beads and a flower patch on her knees that complements with the stylized fitted patches of the blouse on her chest and ornated with lustrous beaded necklaces, big karnaphool, bracelets, armlets and anklets. The kamarband is carved in magnificent floral patterns with the long frills hanging at the sides. The long crown that glorifies on her head is carved in an appreciating South Indian style with traditional floral coils followed by a mesh that points at the top.
This chaturbhuja deity holds her veena symbolizing music, vertically in her left front hand and the right one carries a pen, while the posterior hands are sculpted with a book symbolizing knowledge and a rosary respectively. The swan sitting near her feet is Saraswati’s mount signifying moksha and spiritual perfection, therefore she is also called as Hamsavahini. The peacock on the right side of pedestal symbolizes colorful splendour and dance; in popular Jain iconography, Saraswati Maa is shown with a peacock as her mount. The self-textured beauty and glow of this sculpture adds-on to her charm.
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.
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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