DETAILS
Bronze Mariamman
Size (WxDxH) : 3 x 2.5 x 5.25 inches
Finish : Bronze ( Lost Wax)
DESCRIPTION
Mariamman is form of mother Goddess shakti , the source of all, the universal principal of energy, power and creativity. She is predominantly worshipped in Tamil Nadu as the goddess of rain and is considered by many to be the South Indian Incarnation of Goddess Kali.
Mariamman is holding a knife, skull cup, drum with a cobra encircling it and a noose. This Mariamman is a hand made, one of a kind, bronze ( Lost Wax) sculpture in South India using the lost wax process, a skill passed on for generations since the Chola period
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.
