Amitabha

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Name: Amitabha
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZO52
Price: 330.00 USD
Availability: InStock

£295

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	ZO52
	Copper Sculpture with Silver Inlay
	Height: 5.3 inch
	Width: 3.5 inch
	Depth: 2.5 inch
	Weight 6 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

Embracing Enlightenment

This exquisitely crafted copper sculpture, adorned with delicate silver inlay, captures the essence of transcendent wisdom and infinite compassion. Sized perfectly at 5.3 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches for a personal altar, meditation space, or as a cherished reminder in any room, this piece embodies both artistry and spiritual significance. The statue's meticulous detailing invites reflection and connection to the profound teachings it represents.

The Buddha of Infinite Light

The figure depicted represents a central figure in Pure Land Buddhism. This Buddha is revered as the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. Within the Pure Land tradition, practitioners aspire to be reborn in his Western Paradise, a realm of pure bliss and conducive to enlightenment. His name itself, "Amitabha," speaks to his boundless qualities. "Amita" signifies "infinite" or "immeasurable," and "abha" translates to "light," while "ayus" refers to "life." The stories surrounding this figure detail his journey as a Bodhisattva named Dharmakara. In his vows, Dharmakara promised to create a perfect Buddha-land and assist all beings in achieving enlightenment, vowing not to attain Buddhahood himself until he had fulfilled these promises. After countless eons of virtuous practice, he became the Buddha we now know, manifesting the Pure Land of Sukhavati, a realm of unimaginable beauty and ease, where beings are free from suffering and distractions, and are guided towards liberation. The figure's hands are arranged in the Dhyana mudra, the gesture of meditation.

Craftsmanship and Devotion

This sculpture is more than just a decorative item. The crafting of such a figure is a devotional act in itself. The careful selection of copper and the intricate silver inlay are a testament to the respect and veneration for the subject. The metal's earthy tones lend a sense of groundedness and stability, while the silver accents highlight the divine qualities. The detail of the piece allows one to see the fine craftsmanship. From the facial expressions which convey serenity, to the carefully rendered clothing which demonstrates careful artisanship.

A Path to Peace

Invite serenity and inspiration into your life with this tangible representation of boundless compassion and wisdom. It serves as a beautiful reminder of your own potential for enlightenment and a beacon of hope in navigating the complexities of life. It makes a thoughtful gift for practitioners, art enthusiasts, or anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual journey. This statue can serve as a focal point for meditation or a beautiful addition to a sacred altar.

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.