DETAILS
Bronze Arthanareeswarar
Size (WxDxH) : 8 x 3.75 x 12 Inches
Finish : Bronze (Lost Wax)
DESCRIPTION
Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous deity composed of Shiva and his consort Parvati, representing the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies. The Ardhanari form also illustrates how the female principle of God, Shakti, is inseparable from the male principle of God, Shiva. Ardhanari in iconography is depicted as half-male and half-female, split down the middle. The best sculptural depictions of Shiva as Ardhanari are to be seen in the sensuous Chola dynasty bronzes(Lost Wax). After Shiva and Parvati got married, Shiva wanted to share whatever was his experience. Hence, he sheded half of himself to accomdate half of Parvati in his Body. This is the story of Ardhanarishvara. This is basically trying to manifest that the masculine and the feminine are equally divided within yourself.
ABOUT LOST WAX BRONZE SCULPTURES
The Lost Wax Process, also called cire-perdue, is a method of metal casting in which hot metal is poured into a wax model, which is lost during the process. The process is used to make highly detailed bronze sculptures.
In the olden days, the castings were often made in copper, but bronze quickly became the preferred material for statuary, as it is stronger and more tensile. This method of sculpting involves creating a solid wax model of the figure, and then wrapping it in a clay mould. The model is then heated to melt the wax and harden the clay. Molten metal is poured into the inverted clay mould, and upon cooling, the clay mould is broken to reveal a solid sculpture.
Sculptures made using this method are one of a kind, since the mould must be broken to take the statue out. A sculptor typically spends several weeks to months working on one piece, thereby making such sculptures harder to come by, and very special. The very fine detailing and the intricacy of the work adds to the beauty of each piece.
