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Bronze Castings
 Bronze
Casting is an art of Andhra Pradesh, the bronze castings are a paragon of excellence in sculpture. bronze castings art gives a feel of life to the icons by replicating the exact shapes of human organs. The artists seem to derive a authentic inspiration from nature in molding the metal into icons. The dazzling bronze adds to the grace of the castings.
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.
Nature was also used as role model. Eyebrows were modeled after fish or neem leaf; the upper lip was based on the shape of the bow and so on. These castings appear so realistic as to keep one spellbound. The idol of 'Adishakti' sitting on a lotus, the meditating Buddha, the 'Ardhanariswara' statue, the 'Nataraj' performing the 'Tandav Nritya', all show the artists commitment to perfection.
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.
The famous bronze idols were based on the verses from the Shilpashastra. These verses were called dhyana. These verses instruct the craftsmen about the physical measurements, proportions, description of the deity, characteristics, symbolism and above all, aesthetics.
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