Maitreya Buddha - The Future Savior
(with Ashtamangala Aureole)

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Name: Maitreya Buddha - The Future Savior - (with Ashtamangala Aureole)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: RH61
Price: 835.00 USD
Availability: InStock

£747

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Specifications

	RH61
	Copper Sculpture Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 12 inch
	Width: 6 inch
	Depth: 5 inch
	Weight 2.97 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Promise of the Future

Behold the exquisite representation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, a bodhisattva destined to appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the Dharma. Revered across various Buddhist traditions, Maitreya's coming is prophesied to usher in an era of peace, compassion, and prosperity. This magnificent sculpture, crafted from copper and gilded with radiant 24 Karat gold, captures the serene grace and hopeful essence of this future savior. Maitreya currently resides in the Tushita heaven, awaiting the perfect moment to descend and guide humanity towards enlightenment. When the teachings of the current Buddha, Gautama Buddha, have faded, Maitreya will be born to renew the Dharma. His teachings will encompass love, kindness, and the path to liberation from suffering, offering solace and guidance in a world yearning for transformation.

Artistic Mastery

This captivating piece embodies the skilled artistry and devotion inherent in traditional Buddhist sculpture. The sculpture showcases the bodhisattva seated in a relaxed pose upon an ornate lotus throne, symbolizing purity and spiritual awakening. His hands are held in the Vitarka Mudra, the gesture of teaching and discussion, signifying the transmission of wisdom. The intricate details, from the gentle curve of his smile to the meticulously rendered folds of his robes, reflect the meticulous care and profound respect with which this sacred image was created. The warm glow of the 24 Karat gold enhances the sculpture’s divine presence, making it a captivating focal point in any space.

Auspicious Symbolism

Adding to the statue's significance, the presence of the Ashtamangala Aureole represents the eight auspicious symbols in Buddhism. These symbols, which can be seen in the statue's background and on either side of Maitreya's head, bring blessings of good fortune, protection, and spiritual growth. Each symbol carries its own unique meaning: the lotus flower for purity, the conch shell for the spread of Dharma, the endless knot for interconnectedness, the victory banner for overcoming obstacles, the Dharma wheel for the Buddhist teachings, the pair of golden fish for happiness, the treasure vase for abundance, and the parasol for protection. This aureole amplifies the sacred aura, making this sculpture not only a beautiful work of art but also a potent symbol of spiritual upliftment. Measuring 12.0 x 6.0 x 5.0 inches, this sculpture is a tangible reminder of the path to enlightenment and the promise of a brighter future.

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.