45" Large Eight Hands Goddess Durga Seated on Lion

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On a simple platform, the mount of the goddess – lion is sculpted in a powerful and dynamic stance. Small ears, luxurious mane, an open jaw full of sharp fangs, and the long curling tail of the Simha (lion) create a robust throne for the bronze goddess Durga. With her legs placed in the royal Lalitasana posture, the eight-armed goddess Durga in this sculpture is emanating the culmination of the powers of all the Hindu gods. Each attribute in her hands is an offering to the divine mother from the Devatas (gods), who evoked the Simhavahini (rider of the Simha) Durga in an exhilarating Stuti (devotional hymn) described in the pages of the Shiva Maha Purana.

The gods adorn Devi Durga with divine epithets such as Para-Amba (primordial mother) who bestows Moksha, one who originates, nurtures, and annihilates. She is the enchantress of the three realms “Tripura-Sundari”, one who is undefeated “Aparajita”, protector of those who seeks refuge in her “Rudrani”. As the sovereign mother of the entire creation, goddess Durga as seen in this bronze icon is worshipped as “Ananatakoti Brahmanda Nayika”.

An imposing Kiritamukuta crown adorned with peacock motifs and tiny chains framing Devi’s forehead appears divinely regal. Disc-shaped “Dehri” earrings with jeweled chains attached to them, four ornate necklaces, bejeweled armbands, waistbands, and anklets beautify the form of the great Maa Durga in this bronze icon. With fine incised lines, the soft folds of her suave sari that clings to her angelic form are delineated. The pleats of the goddess’s sari that fall in the front are beautifully carved by the sculptor, with a true-to-life softness of fabric felt in the way it is visible between Maa Durga’s legs. The reverse of this goddess Durga bronze icon carries details such as seven strands of Devi’s hair falling on her back, the end piece of the sari clinging to her, and fleshiness in the goddess’s form.

Maheswari Durga in this Panchaloha conveys heavenly tranquility through her countenance on which a pleasing inward smile is felt. With her hand raised in the gesture of fearlessness and her lotus foot dangling as the ultimate sanctuary, goddess Durga in this bronze is the guardian of all beings, divine and earthly.

Sculpting Dreams in Metal: The Enigmatic Alchemy of Panchaloha Bronze Masterpieces

Bronze statues and sculptures are known for their exquisite beauty and the divinity that they emit all around the space. Bronze is considered an excellent metal alloy, composed primarily of copper and tin. Many properties make it suitable for sculpting even the most intricate and complex structures. There was a period in history, known as the “Bronze Age'', in which most sculptors preferred to work with Bronze as it was considered the hardest metal. Bronze is especially appreciated for its durability, ductility, and corrosion-resistance properties. India is especially known for its elegant workmanship of skills working with Bronze. The artisans of a town named Swamimalai in South India have been following a tradition of bronze murti making for ages. They use a special material known as Panchaloha bronze to make fascinating icons of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. All of us are allured by the beauty of bronze statues and sculptures but there goes a tough hand in casting those masterpieces with little or no imperfections. Since it is an extremely elaborate process, a sculptor needs to be highly skilled in making bronze antiques. The most common technique for casting bronze sculptures that has been followed since ancient times is the “Lost-wax” process which involves many steps:

1. Clay model making

The making of a bronze statue or sculpture starts with preparing a full-sized clay (usually Plasticine) model of the sculpture. This allows the artist to have an idea about the overall shape and form of the desired sculpture before working with bronze, a much more expensive and difficult-to-work-with material.

2. Mould making

Once the clay model is ready, a mould of the original sculpture is made. This is done by carefully covering the clay model with plaster strips. This step is carried out in such a way that no air bubbles are formed. It takes up to 24 hours for the plaster to dry. Once dried, the plaster is then gently removed from the clay model. The removal happens easily because the inner mould is usually made of materials such as polyurethane rubber or silicone.

3. Wax filling and removal

In this step, molten bronze or wax is poured or filled into the mould in such a way that it gets even into the finest details. The mould is then turned upside down and left to cool and harden. When the wax has hardened, it is removed from the mould.

4. Chasing

Chasing is the process in which the artist refines the surface of the bronze statue using various tools to achieve fine details. This smoothens the surface and gives the statue a finished look. If some parts of the statue were moulded separately, they are now heated and attached.

5. Applying a patina

Bronze sculptures are known for their unique look or sheen on the surface. This may take several years to achieve naturally. Applying patina to bronze sculptures is an important step to make them appear attractive. Working with clay, plaster mould, and molten wax can be messy and therefore sculptors wear old clothes and remain careful. The entire process of making a bronze statue takes several months to complete. Bronze sculptures last for many centuries because of the high durability of the material. Many centuries down the line, these sculptures continue to be appreciated for their majestic beauty.