Meditating Buddha

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Name: Meditating Buddha
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: EA19
Price: 140.00 USD
Availability: InStock

CA$200

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	EA19
	Copper Lost Wax Sculpture with Silver Inlay
	5.4" x 3.4" x 2.2"
	Weight 1 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

The Stillness Within

Invite a sense of serenity and mindful contemplation into your home with this beautifully crafted sculpture, depicting the Buddha in profound meditation. The figure embodies the essence of enlightenment and the peaceful state achievable through inner reflection. The intricate details capture the essence of this revered figure, making it a focal point for any space. The Buddha's gentle expression and posture invite a sense of calm, reminding us to find stillness within ourselves, even amidst the chaos of daily life.

Craftsmanship and Materials

This statue is a testament to exceptional artistry. Created using the ancient 'lost wax' or *cire perdue* method, each piece carries the unique mark of the artisan's hand. This process, used for centuries across various cultures, involves creating a wax model which is then encased in clay. Once fired, the wax melts away, leaving a mold into which molten metal is poured. After cooling, the clay is broken away, revealing the metal sculpture. This method ensures fine detail and creates a work that is both durable and aesthetically striking. The use of copper lends a warm, grounding energy to the sculpture. The silver inlay, painstakingly applied, accentuates the details of the robe, adding a touch of elegance and highlighting the intricate patterns.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

The Buddha, originally Prince Siddhartha Gautama, renounced a life of luxury in his quest to understand suffering and attain enlightenment. After years of rigorous meditation and self-discipline, he achieved Nirvana, becoming the Buddha, 'the Awakened One.' The *Dhyana Mudra*, or meditation gesture, depicted by the Buddha's hands resting gently in his lap, is a significant element of this sculpture. The right hand rests on top of the left, with the thumbs lightly touching, forming a triangle. This symbolizes the union of method and wisdom, a key principle in Buddhist philosophy. The lotus flower base on which the Buddha sits is another powerful symbol. The lotus rises from muddy waters, representing the journey from suffering to enlightenment, and signifies purity, spiritual awakening, and faithfulness. The lotus is also associated with Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, who is often depicted holding a lotus flower.

Placement and Intention

This sculpture is perfectly sized to adorn a meditation space, bookshelf, desk, or altar. Its dimensions (5.4" x 3.4" x 2.2") allow for versatile placement without overwhelming a space. This statue serves not only as a beautiful object of art but also as a reminder of the potential for inner peace and wisdom that resides within each of us. Allow it to inspire contemplation, mindfulness, and the pursuit of enlightenment in your own life.

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.