Craft Guide · Poonam Backliwal
Brass Religious Statues: India's Ancient Art of Sacred Casting
The history, craftsmanship, and spiritual significance of handcrafted brass idols and figures
Walk into any home in India and you will almost certainly find one — a brass figure of Ganesha on a shelf, a Lakshmi idol on the prayer table, a dancing Nataraja catching the afternoon light. Brass religious statues are woven into the fabric of Indian domestic life in a way that few other objects are. They are simultaneously works of devotion, objects of extraordinary craftsmanship, and one of India's oldest living art forms.
The tradition of casting sacred figures in metal stretches back over two thousand years in India. The famous Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro — a small bronze figure cast over 4,000 years ago — shows just how ancient this impulse is. Today, the craft continues in workshops across South India, Rajasthan, and Odisha, with techniques that have remained largely unchanged for centuries.
The Lost-Wax Method: An Ancient Technique
The finest brass and bronze religious statues are made using the lost-wax casting method — known in Sanskrit as madhuchchhishta vidhana — a technique of breathtaking ingenuity that has been used by Indian craftsmen for millennia.
The process begins with the sculptor creating a detailed model in beeswax, capturing every nuance of the deity's form — the curve of a finger, the fall of a garland, the expression of the face. This wax model is then coated in layers of clay mixed with sand and cow dung, leaving small channels through which the wax can escape.
The clay mould is fired in a kiln. As it heats, the wax melts and flows out through the channels — hence "lost wax." Molten brass is then poured into the void left behind, filling every detail of the original wax model. Once cooled, the clay mould is broken away to reveal the metal figure within.
No two lost-wax castings are ever identical. Each figure is a unique object, shaped by the hands of a craftsman who has spent years mastering the subtleties of the form.
After casting, the figure is worked further — filed, chiselled, and polished to refine the surface and add fine details that cannot be captured in the casting alone. This finishing work can take as long as the casting itself.
The Major Deities and Their Significance
Each deity in the Hindu pantheon has a specific iconographic form — particular poses, gestures, attributes, and proportions laid down in ancient texts called the Shilpa Shastras. A skilled craftsman works within these conventions, bringing them to life in metal.
- Ganesha — the elephant-headed son of Shiva, remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings. Placed at the entrance of homes and businesses, and invoked before any new endeavour. Depicted seated or standing, with his trunk curved left (auspicious) or right (powerful).
- Lakshmi — goddess of wealth, prosperity, and beauty. Shown standing on a lotus, with gold coins flowing from one hand — a symbol of abundance freely given.
- Nataraja — Shiva as the cosmic dancer, performing the tandava dance of creation and destruction within a ring of fire. One of the most sublime images in all of world art.
- Saraswati — goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. Shown playing the veena, with a book and a lotus, accompanied by her swan.
- Krishna — the divine cowherd, shown playing his flute in the Venugopala form, or as the infant Bal Gopal, or in the dramatic Kaliya Mardan pose subduing the serpent.
- Hanuman — the devoted monkey god, symbol of strength, courage, and selfless service. Shown in devotional pose with hands folded, or in his heroic form carrying the mountain.
- Buddha — depicted in meditation (dhyana mudra), in the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsha), or in teaching pose (dharmachakra mudra).
Regional Styles of Brass Casting
India's brass and bronze casting traditions vary significantly by region, each with a distinct aesthetic character:
- Chola bronzes (Tamil Nadu) — considered the pinnacle of Indian metal sculpture. Fluid, sensuous figures with extraordinary refinement. The Nataraja originated here.
- Dhokra (West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh) — a tribal lost-wax tradition with bold, geometric forms and textured surfaces. Primitive and powerful.
- Rajasthani brass — rich, warm-toned figures often with detailed surface decoration. The Jaipur region is particularly known for its Ganesha and Krishna figures.
- Kerala bell metal — made from an alloy of copper and tin, with a distinctive dark lustre. Used for both sacred figures and ritual lamps.
Caring for Your Brass Statue
Brass develops a natural patina over time — a darkening of the surface that many collectors prize as it gives the figure depth and age. If you prefer a brighter finish, here is how to care for your piece:
- Regular dusting — use a soft, dry cloth. Avoid synthetic materials that can scratch the surface.
- Cleaning — a paste of lemon juice and salt, or tamarind paste, applied gently and rinsed off, will restore brightness. Commercial brass cleaners also work well.
- Avoid moisture — prolonged exposure to water causes green verdigris. Dry thoroughly after any cleaning.
- Polishing — a light application of coconut oil or brass polish, buffed to a shine, will protect the surface and bring out the warmth of the metal.
Brass Statues as Objects of Beauty
Beyond their devotional significance, brass religious statues are objects of remarkable aesthetic power. The warm golden tone of brass, the weight and solidity of the metal, the play of light across a polished surface — these qualities make brass figures compelling presences in any interior.
They work beautifully on prayer shelves and altars, of course, but also as focal points on bookshelves, side tables, and mantlepieces. A well-made Nataraja or Ganesha brings both spiritual resonance and visual richness to a space — a reminder that some of the world's most extraordinary art was made not for galleries but for daily life.
Brass Statues at Poonam Backliwal
At Poonam Backliwal, we source our brass figures from established craftsmen across Rajasthan and beyond — artists who work in the traditional methods, using quality alloys and finishing each piece by hand. Our collection ranges from small, intimate figures for personal shrines to large, statement pieces for prominent display.
Each figure is chosen for the quality of its casting, the refinement of its finishing, and its faithfulness to the iconographic tradition it represents.