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30" Large Lord Buddha Idol in Dhyana Mudra | Copper with 24K Gilded Gold

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One of the earliest icons of the Buddha Shakyamuni shows him in the meditative posture which in Buddhist art has become an outstanding visual representation of his Enlightenment. A handmade copper statue with gilded gold, this Buddha in the Dhyana Mudra from Nepal glows awe-inspiringly with the glory of its subject.

A golden inverted lotus studded with red and turquoise stones serves as the throne of the Buddha in Dhyana Mudra. An open lotus in Buddhist and Hindu traditions signifies the opening of the lotus within, a beautiful idea that is used in art even more beautifully. On the smoothed surface of the lotus, the copper Buddha in Dhyana mudra has his hands placed in his lap, with an alms bowl on his palms.

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Item Code:	NLH112
Specifications:	Copper With Gilded Gold
Height:	30 inch
Width:	20 inch
Depth:	15 inch
Weight:	25 kg

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The alms bowl in Buddhism is one of the few possessions of a Buddhist monk or nun and it is also one of the venerated objects related to the Buddha. The legs of this copper Buddha statue are in the padmasana or the lotus posture, used for meditation. A glistening monastic robe covers the Buddha’s left shoulder while leaving the right shoulder bare. The soft folds of the robe are pleasingly delineated in the center and under the knees of the Nepalese gilded Buddha statue. With intricate detailing, the artist has decorated the robe with floral patterns and patch-like sections drawing from the fact that the earliest Buddhist robes were discarded rags sewed together by the monks.

The countenance of this gilded copper Buddha in Dhyana Mudra carries a divine mystique, thanks to the tedious process of gilding. Buddha’s coils and the cranial protuberance are tastefully presented framing the meditative visage which is endowed with an otherworldly sublimity. In the center of his shapely brows, a jewel is set on this statue of the meditating Buddha, a symbol of the awakening of supreme wisdom. An ornate aura behind the Buddha’s head adds majesty to this gilded Nepalese statue, an ageless reminder of the brilliance of Enlightenment.

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.