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AN OUTLINE OF BUDDHIST METAL SCULPTURE IN REFERENCE OF PATAN MUSEUM

AN OUTLINE OF BUDDHIST METAL SCULPTURE IN REFERENCE OF PATAN MUSEUM

According to the Swayambhupuran, Buddhism in Nepal started in the prehistoric age of Nepal or before origin of Nepal. It is said that Nepal (here Nepal should be considered only as Kathmandu Valley) was a lake named Kalihrad and once Vipashwi Buddha, a primordial Buddha from prehistoric age, practiced his meditation at the islet (that should be consider as current Swayambhu hill) of Kalihrad. He also planted the lotus seed during his meditation and later it bloomed with blistering flare which is also called Jyotirup Dharmadhatu. Later, one of the Bhikshyus named Shantikaracharya came to Kalihrad and erected the Stupa (which is now-a-days consider as Swayambhu Mahachaitya) onto the blistering flare. Also it is said that one of the Boddhisattwas from China named Manjudevacharya, who is also famous as Manjushree came to the Kalihrad for bountiful praying of the blistering flare planted by Vipashwi Buddha and later he cut the gorges of Kalihrad at chobhar and drained out the water from the lake. After then Manjushree erected the town named Manjupattan in Nepal Valley. These Buddhist epics tell the olden days of Buddhism in Nepal since prehistoric age. 

          Image 1 Standing Buddha
    However, in case of the Metal Art concerned to the Buddhism cannot go back to the prehistoric age as the practice of Buddhism in Nepal. The authentic evidence of cast bronze sculpture of Buddha with standing posture which is now-a-days displayed at Cleveland Museum of Arts in U.S. and the historian Merry S. Slusser confirms the date from 6th century. Thus, this evidence support to confirm that metal casting in Nepal applying Lost Wax Method had already developed during Lichchhavi period before 6thcentury, which later taken a summit during Malla period.The plenty of metal sculptures displayed permanently at Patan Museum Gallery proves that the metal art with lost wax method and metal sculptors and craftsmen were genius in Malla period. They established the unique schooling of metal art with unique style in metal art which is now-a-days consider as Malla style or Malla School of Metal Art in Nepal. In fact, simplicity was the prominent feature of Lichchhavi style or Lichchhavi School of Buddhist metal art in ancient period of Nepal and in contrast, exaggerating form was the main feature of Malla school in medieval period of Nepal. 
Image 2 Ekadasamukha Avalokiteshvara
Thus, there could be seen multiple headed and multiple armed figures as well as the wrathful and the figures of father and mother union like Yum-bum in Buddhist context of Malla sculpture. 
In case of Repoussé Metal Art, Lichchhavi Schooling couldn't fabricate Buddhist Metal Sculpture. Perhaps due to the lack of proper research, the evidences of Repoussé Metal Art in Buddhist context are not found from Lichchhavi School. On the other hand, there are plenty of evidences of Repoussé Metal Art from Malla School in Baha-Bahi (Vajrayana Buddhist Monasteries) in Kathmandu Valley. In comparison of Lost Wax Method, Repoussé Method was rarely practiced method for Buddhist metal sculpture during Lichchhavi period and also it was in developing stage during Malla period. This is also proven by few examples of Repoussé metal sculpture, displayed at Patan Museum Gallery. 
Image 3 Raktayamari and Bajravetali

            After the fall of Malla reign in Nepal, Buddhist metal art also descended in Nepal until the foreign tourism was not start off in mid 20th century A.D. which made twist Buddhist metal art to reproduce as metal handicraft in commercial aspects. Also the official welcoming of Tibetan refugees and their cultural invasion in Nepal (mainly in Kathmandu valley), the Mahayani Buddhism has acquired fate to spread in Nepal. Thus, the result for Buddhist metal handicraft is boon in present day. Progressively, metal foundries have been opening day by day in Lalitpur and also plenty of craftsmen have getting opportunities to work in these field and astonishing high earnings from this field.
Image 4 Torso of Anonymous Deity
However, most of those foundries are unauthorized and craftsmen are encouraging to reproduce duplicates from the original and historical sculptures displaying at World Museums as well as from the original metal art created in conventional style by present metal sculptors. Therefore, metal sculptors as well as high skilled craftsmen are losing their job and earning in this field and obliged to either migrate to work in foundries of China or start over the other occupations. 
   
Image 5 Buddha, Patan Museum, Original
Image 6 Buddha, Replica of Image 5


In conclusion, Buddhism and Metal Sculpture are twofold parts of the one single coin in Nepal. Even Hinyana and Vajrayana  Budddhism are trailing their status in present day; Mahayani Buddhism is in highest summit in Nepal and visualization of Buddhism through the metal sculpture is also in summit. 
Image 7 Melting Metal in Crucible into the Furnace
Image 8 Pouring molten metal into the moulds


The Buddhist metal sculptures from the medieval period, which are permanently displayed at Patan Museum strongly affects the development of Lost Wax Casting Technology and Repoussé Technology in Nepal.
Image 9 Shaping by Hammer (Repousse Technique)
Also artistic imagination and visualization of the metal sculptors from that period (Malla period) are amazingly high in standard.The skills of the craftsmen from the Malla period cannot undervalue, which made possible to visualize sculptors' imagination to establish the iconography of the Buddhist art through the Malla style. The Lichchhavi School of Art commenced the Buddhist metal sculpture in ancient Nepal, which later flourished in the Malla School of Art with uniqueness of the style in Buddhist Metal Art.    
Image 10 Assembling & Welding(Repousse Technique)
                                    

                                                                                                                                   Image Source:
Image 1: Sketch from reference of the picture of http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1968.40 by Tejesh Man Shakya
Images 2 – 5: Photographs from Patan Museum Gallery by Shishir Ratna Shakya
Image 6: The Calendar of 2071 B. S. published by Lalitpur Handicraft Association
Images 7 & 8: Photographs from Foundry Foundation Nepal by Tejesh Man Shakya
Images 9 & 10: Photographs from Image Atelier by Author 

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