Cast in solid bronze here is a voluptuous lady, her limbs as graceful and supple as the branch she is holding. Women holding or touching blossoming vines is a popular element in ancient Indian iconography, that sprouted from the belief that young women, especially Yakshis- beautiful ladies with supernatural powers had the ability to make trees bloom by touching them. The fecundity of their youth was transferred to the trees which magically began flowering. Such icons and sculptures usually adorn the walls, and pillars of Hindu temples and other religious structures, and the women holding blossoming branches came to be known as – “Shaalbhanjikas”.
The pedestal on which the lady stands is two-tiered, the lower one is a circular base embellished with beautiful patterns, on top of which is placed an upturned lotus. Her feet are slightly apart, in a comfortable and graceful manner which gives us a full view of her gorgeous attire. Her dhoti is delineated with fine lines on the bronze surface, on which she wears an elaborate girdle ornamented by the Makara motif- a symbol of celestial beauty, a befitting addition to the jewelry of the exquisite maiden. The bare torso of the lady displays an antique polish- on her belly are three lines showing her flesh folds, and her ornamentation pleasingly brings out the magnificence of her youthful physique. Her face is round and radiates a child-like innocence, reminding us of her having touched the doorstep of youth freshly. Her hair is done in an extensively elaborate fashion, with a few strands curling to give her face a nice frame, while the tresses held in the bun are embellished with ethnic hair accessories. Her left-hand dangles down while her right hand is upraised and intertwined with a flowering vine, which she appears to be nurturing with the freshness and fertility of her own youth. Together, the young maiden, as well as the blossoming vine, symbolize new beginnings, auspiciousness, and growth, which such sculptures are fabled to bring into any space they house.
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.
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