Umbrella-Carrying Dancing Ganesha

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Item Code: RL02
Specifications:
South Indian Temple Wood Carving
Height: 36 inch
Width: 17.5 inch
Depth: 6 inch
Weight: 15.70 kg
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
This magnificent statue carved out of fine timber from Kala Korchi region in Tamil Nadu represents a rapt Ganapati with child-like innocence bursting from his entire being. With rhythm infused into every part of his figure this cute four-armed image represents Lord Ganesh in a posture of dance. The rhythmic curves of his body, his upper left hand with a goad, and right, with a mace, floating into air, lower right and left, despite that they carry umbrella and water pot, gesticulating to unheard notes, head and queer pot-like belly tilted to left, and shoulders and neck, to right, rounded ankles, one foot turned to right, and other, to left, and horse-shoe-like ears and sash-ends unfurling into either side, vibrate the entire figure with the ecstasy of dance, and render it quite curious and delightful. The umbrella above his head and a series of colourful lotuses under his feet, abounding in great lyricism, complete the cycle from song to scene, from unheard melody to visualism of frisking legs.

In utter defiance to set norms, the elephant god’s girdle ascends far above his rounded belly, and his loincloth, slips below his waist. Not with ecstatic or exalted moves, to which he is known to resort in his Nratya Ganapati manifestation, he has been represented in this wood-carving as dancing effortless like a lotus tossing with the lake’s delicate waves revealing beauty of form and delicacy of ‘bhava’ – sentiment, a dance-form identified in Indian classical tradition as ‘lasya’ – an expression of lovable tenderness, a dance form revealing beauty. One of the ‘Adigurus’ – pioneer teachers of dance, Ganesh danced to all modes, moods, rhythm and pace; however, it is in ‘lasya’ that his divinity – the quality of being auspicious, good and delightful better reveals.

A dance-mode is one of the most popular, as also one of the earliest iconographic manifestations of Lord Ganesh. In his context dance was always an act revealing sublimity. Even in great ecstasy and rapture or even in exuberance he is not rumpus or rowdy. A slightly tilted head, a little raised legs, minor body curves, tenderly moved arms, and over and above all, a kind of divine serenity defined the dance form of the loving god. Shiva danced to create, or to destroy, Kali, for suppressing and eliminating evil, and Krishna, for subduing wrong, but Lord Ganesh danced for aesthetic delight, perhaps with no other object than to delight and elevate thereby. In this representation the intrinsic rhythm bursting out powerfully and yet effortless, a few curves of his figure, and the rapture reflecting on his face, are used to define his dance.

Adherence to canonical standards seems to have little bothered the wood-carver. What appears to have engaged his mind were body-curves that revealed rhythm, balance of different parts, unity of conflicting forms, and quaintness of the entire figure. He seems to have taken special delight in conceiving a queer pot-like belly, rounded ankles, horse-shoe-like turned ears and arms so modeled that on one hand they carried the usual attributes and on the other, accomplished a role in the totality of the conceived form. In conceiving his figure as single-tusked and as pot-bellied, the artist might have meditated on adding further divinity to this form of Lord Ganesh.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.


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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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