Ganesha, The Master-Drummer

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Name: Ganesha, The Master-Drummer
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZC57
Price: 230.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$230

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Item Code:	ZC57
Specifications:	Wood Sculpture
Height:	11 inch
Width:	8 inch
Depth:	5.5 inch
Weight:	2.80 kg

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This excellent wooden statue of Lord Ganesha, obviously a member of the orchestra, is the master-drummer and the leader of the group. He is playing on a pair of drums, one male and the other female, India's most traditional drum-form, one roaring like clouds travelling horizontally from one end to the other and the other shaping the sound into various notes rising to zenithal heights. Amidst a large number of Hindu gods and goddesses Indian tradition vests with only four gods, namely, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha and Kali, the capacity to dance and drum, or play on other musical instruments. Shiva danced and played on his 'damaru', but only for destruction and dissolution. Vishnu as Vamana danced for eliminating evil and as Krishna for subduing Kaliya. He played on his flute for infatuating 'gopis' and, of course, the entire cosmos along them, for their participation in his great cosmic act using thus the 'ephemeral' for the transcendental. Kali danced on corpses to destroy and for producing awe and horror.

Lord Ganesha has been conceived in tradition quite differently and not only as musician - the dancer and the drummer, but also as the pioneer scribe who transcribed Brahma's Vedas, the first sportsman, teacher and Brahmana. As dancer he danced to all moods and in all modes, with slow pace and violently but not for violence as violence was never the part of the auspicious Lord. He danced for auspices and to delight, pleasing all and injuring none, in devotion as well to his devotees. He played on all instruments - all kinds of drums, lyres and flutes. The versatile Ganesha is believed to have been the first to compose sound to various 'ragas' and other musical discipline, writing the ever first treatise on music and the earliest linguistics specifying sound as vowels and consonants and other linguistic formations.

It is for such reasons that Lord Ganesha has in people's mind thousands of forms representing him in as many moods and aspects. He carries with him a battle-axe but his face rarely carries on it a wrathful demeanour. In folk tradition he has been widely depicted in gentle moods and as engaged in aesthetic and intellectual pursuits - dancing, drumming, reciting the poetry of the Ramayana, reading out Vedas or other holy texts, sporting or performing a ritual.

This lively statue of the delightful Lord, carved out of a piece of fine tempered wood, represents him as the leading figure of the group of musician Ganeshas. The artist seems to have minutely studied a drummer's anatomy and translated the same into this excellent form of Ganesha. Like a well accomplished drummer Ganesha is seated holding the female drum within his inward tilted left leg and the taller one held inside the fold of the right one stretching outwardly. His pot-belly, almost penetrating in between the recesses of the two instruments, provides to them gentle but solid support. His entire figure is inclined to left, a reflection of inward energy coiling leftward for its better concentration on the female drum which needs incessant, more forceful, strenuous and louder beats. Deeper wrinkles on forehead, swelled trunk, eyes buried in their sockets and wings-like flanking ears define the ecstasy and strain which the delightful Lord is undergoing in the exercise.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

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Other Sculptures in this Series:

Ganesha, The Pupil Drummer

Ganesha, The Lyrist

His Majesty Lord Ganesha

Click Here to read the Article: Ganesha - the Elephant Headed God, Art and Mythology

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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