Crawling Baby Ganesha with a Modak in Hand

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Name: Crawling Baby Ganesha with a Modak in Hand
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZEN182
Price: 770.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$963

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Specifications

	ZEN182
	Copper Statue From Nepal
	Height: 11 inch
	Width: 9 inch
	Depth: 12.3 inch
	Weight 3.80 kg

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Divine Infant: A Symbol of Auspicious Beginnings

Invoking the benevolent presence of Lord Ganesha, this exquisite copper statue captures the deity in his charming infant form, poised as if on the cusp of his first steps. In Hindu tradition, Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the intellect personified. His image is invoked at the commencement of any significant undertaking, ensuring smooth passage and success. This particular depiction, with the baby Ganesha in a crawling posture, embodies the purity and potential of new beginnings, symbolizing the early stages of growth and the boundless promise of the future.

Artistry from the Himalayas

Crafted with meticulous care in Nepal, a land steeped in spiritual heritage and artistic prowess, this statue is a testament to the enduring skill of Nepalese artisans. The rich patina of the copper evokes a sense of antiquity and spiritual depth, while the intricate detailing showcases the profound understanding of divine iconography. The delicate rendering of Ganesha's form, from the playful curve of his trunk to the subtle expression on his face, is brought to life through age-old casting techniques. The elaborate crown adorning his head signifies his divine royalty, even in his youthful guise. The ornate base upon which he rests further enhances the statue's regal and sacred aura, each curve and pattern whispering tales of devotion and artistry passed down through generations.

The Beloved Modak

In the infant Ganesha's delicate hands, he holds a modak, the sweet rice flour dumpling that is his most cherished delicacy. The modak is not merely a sweet treat; it symbolizes the sweetness of spiritual wisdom and the rewards of righteous endeavors. Legend has it that Ganesha's father, Lord Shiva, once offered him a modak, and whoever ate it would gain unparalleled knowledge and intellect. Ganesha, with his keen mind, ate the modak and was blessed with immense wisdom. Thus, the presence of the modak in this sculpture represents not only Ganesha's childlike innocence and love for earthly pleasures but also the divine wisdom and intelligence he bestows upon his devotees. This statue serves as a constant reminder of the simple joys and the profound intellect that reside within the divine, encouraging us to embrace both with open hearts.

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.