Before making bronze idols, the craftsman had to carefully study verses from the Shilpashastra. The verses were called dhyana and instructed the craftsman on the physical measurements, proportions, description of the deity, characteristics, symbolism and above all, aesthetics.
This is how the craftsmen set about creating masterpieces from bronze in ancient India What is also interesting is the guidance that was sought from nature for modelling icons - eyebrows were modelled after neem leaf or fish; nose, the sesume flower, the upper lip, a bow; chin, a mango stone; neck, the conch shell and so on.
In solid casting of icons, the mould is made by giving several clay coatings
on a prepared wax model, but with a different clay each time.These convey the
contours of the model to the cast-image and are, therefore, important. The molten
alloy is then poured in a thin and even stream into the mould. When the mould
is broken, care is taken to see that the head of the icon is out first as a
good omen.
Interested
? Book Tour through our Members
