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18" Dorje Drolo From Nepal

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Name: 18" Dorje Drolo From Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: NLH062
Price: 2200.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$2062.50

$2750

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

This item can be backordered

Time required to recreate this artwork

8 weeks to 12 weeks

Advance to be paid now

$412.50 (20%)

Balance to be paid once product is ready

$1650

Notify me when this item is available

Specifications

	NLH062
	Copper With Gold
	Height: 18 inch
	Width: 13.5 inch
	Depth: 7 inch
	Weight 9.80 kg

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

Embodying Ferocious Compassion: The Dorje Drolo Statue

This magnificent statue captures the essence of Dorje Drolo, a powerful and wrathful manifestation of Guru Rinpoche, the revered founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Crafted with exceptional skill in Nepal from rich copper with intricate gold detailing, this piece stands as a testament to the artistry and profound spiritual significance embedded in Nepalese religious iconography. The sculpture depicts Dorje Drolo in his iconic posture of dynamic energy and fierce determination. He is shown trampling a tiger, a symbol of untamed ego, aggression, and worldly desires that must be subdued for spiritual liberation. The tiger's contorted form and bared teeth convey the vanquished nature of these hindrances under the benevolent yet powerful gaze of Dorje Drolo. The fiery halo that envelops the deity further emphasizes his transformative power, representing the flames of wisdom that burn away ignorance and delusion. Each element, from the dynamic posture to the detailed ornamentation, is imbued with meaning, inviting contemplation and devotion. Dorje Drolo is particularly invoked to overcome obstacles, dispel negative influences, and protect practitioners on their spiritual path. He is associated with the thunderbolt, the vajra, symbolizing indestructible wisdom and the power to cut through illusion. In Buddhist narratives, Guru Rinpoche manifested as Dorje Drolo to subdue demonic forces that obstructed the spread of Dharma in Tibet, demonstrating his ultimate role as a protector and guide. This statue, with its commanding presence and elaborate craftsmanship, serves as a focal point for such invocations, bringing the protective energy of Dorje Drolo into any space.

Artistry and Symbolism in Copper and Gold

The choice of materials—copper with gold accents—is highly significant. Copper, a durable and conductive metal, is often used for sacred objects, believed to resonate with spiritual energies. The application of gold symbolizes purity, illumination, and the divine nature of the deity. The intricate detailing, visible in the deity's fierce expression, the dynamic folds of his garments, and the powerful musculature of the tiger, showcases the mastery of the Nepalese artisans. The contrast between the darker copper and the shimmering gold highlights the sacredness and importance of Dorje Drolo, making this a truly breathtaking piece. The base, adorned with ornate patterns and symbolic motifs, further grounds the powerful imagery, creating a harmonious and awe-inspiring representation of spiritual power and artistic excellence.

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.