Lord Ganesha is a widely worshipped god in Hinduism. He is depicted with his elephant head and the human body. The prayers are offered to the Lord Ganesha before the commencement of any important enterprise, he is patron to writers, bankers, and intellectuals. His vehicle (vahana) is a bandicoot rat that sits near his throne that symbolizes the willpower of achieving anything in life. Lord Ganesha’s idol is placed at the entrance of the house, office, or institute as it attracts positivity, peace, and prosperity in the premises.
Exotic India presents an exquisitely carved wooden statue of Lord Ganesha with Kirtimukha on top and prabhavali (aureole) around the Lord to enhance his grandeur and glory. He is seated in lalitasana wherein his left leg is placed on the lotus throne and his right leg touches the base. The large protruding belly reflects the generous nature and total acceptance. On top of the finely carved crown is the motif of Kirtimukha (a ferocious monster with swollen eyes and large fangs). He absorbs away the negativity and keeps the evil eye at bay. The upper torso is decked up with fine jewellery. The chaturbhujadhari (four-armed) deity holds sweet modak in his lower right hand representing bliss of spiritual pursuits, pasha (noose) in his upper right hand indicating control on the wavering mind, Ek Dant (broken tusk) in his lower left hand endowing patron of letters and Ankusha (Goad) symbolizing the strength to steer his devotees from the treacherous path. The superfine carvings on the aureole, tusk and lotus petals are remarkable. The enchanting statue of Lord Ganesha with Kirtimukha will always protect your family and loved ones.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wood statues are lighter in weight and less expensive than metal or stone pieces. Because wood is prone to fast decay by fungus and algae, statues made out of this material are not preferred to be kept outside. The rich tradition of wood carving in countries such as Africa, Egypt, India, and Nepal has been followed for many centuries. Indian craftsmen are specialized in this classic art and continue to exhibit their extraordinary artistic skills.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend