25" Semicircular Vishnu Dashavatara Wall Hanging (Hoysala Art) | South India Bronze Statue

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Starting from the left, Matsya Avatar is half fish and half human, who saved all the motile living beings and humans. Next is the Kurma Avatar, which is half tortoise and half man who balanced Mount Mandara on his shell during the churning process. As you gaze at the carvings of these two avatars clearly, you will appreciate the sculptor’s precision of skills and the way every part is equally highlighted.

Next in row is Varaha Avatar, who is the half man and half boar form of Vishnu and slayed the demon Hiranyaksha to save Bhudevi; crowned beautifully in a side profile, he carries the set weapons of lord Vishnu. Next is one of the most popular Narasimha Avatar of the face of a lion and torso of a man; he defeated Hiranya Kashyap to restore peace and righteousness on Earth.

The fifth avatar is the unique of all; avatar of a dwarf Brahmin known by Vamana Avatar, who sent demon Mahabali to underworld by tricking him. One with long beard and matted hair, holding an axe is the Brahmin Kshatriya avatar of Vishnu, known as Parshuram. Sculptor has kept his personality of a sage intact in his carvings.

Next is the most powerful deity of Hindu Dharma, Lord Rama; carrying a bow in his hand, he killed Ravana and saved his wife Sita. Next comes the Kalki Avatar who is yet to be born after the end of Kalkiyuga. Move forward for the most naughty and charming avatar of Vishnu, who is lord Krishna; sculpted in tribhanga posture, holding a flute in his hand, he ended the reign of his tyrannical maternal uncle Kansa.

Last, but not the least is the Hayagriva Avatar, having the face of a horse and body of a human, worshipped as the god of knowledge and wisdom. Hang this panel on your wall for a perfect look of beauty and spirituality.  

Making Process of Hoysala Bronze

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Due to its durability, corrosion resistance, and versatility, bronze is the most preferred metal for artisans to create sculptures. Other qualities that make it the ideal choice for creating statues is its ability to be cast easily. Aside from that, this metal allows the most intricate details to be captured by the artist.
The art of making bronze statues has been practiced in India for centuries, and evidence of it can be found in magnificent Hoysala bronze ornaments and bronze statues in South India. Of the many bronze idols produced in the country, Hoysala art statues are very famous. The hoysala style includes a depiction of embellishments and ornaments and an abundance of jewelry while making statues. It grew from the 10th to 14th centuries in the Hoysala dynasty that ruled the region, falling in present day Karnataka, hence the name of this craft. It involves intricate work, deep carving, and undercutting by artisans to create elaborate and decorative motifs.
Much time and effort goes into bringing these timeless pieces to life. It takes months to finish a single sculpture, and they are always created by casting. The most common casting type for bronze idols is the lost-wax casting technique. This is a 4000-year-old art form and requires a lot of concentration, patience, and finesse.

The first step of making bronze statues is making a model of the sculpture in clay. The artist creates an exact clay version of what he envisions to be made in bronze. He captures every little detail.

The second step involves making a mold of plasticine or silicon rubber around the clay statue. Once the mold hardens, it is separated from the clay sculpture.

After that, molten wax is poured into the mold so that a thick layer of coating is created inside the mold. This is done so that every detail of the sculpture is captured.

Once the wax hardens, the plasticine or silicon mold is removed, and a ceramic shell is created around the wax structure by dipping it in liquid slurry and silica sand.

This ceramic shell is heated upon solidification, and the wax is melted out. After that, molten bronze is poured into the mold through tubes.

Once the liquid bronze has hardened and taken the shape of the mold, the ceramic shell is removed, and the final product is checked for any imperfections.

The final step involves the application of patina onto the sculpture. This prevents corrosion and adds color to the statue. A final coat of wax is applied to preserve this and add luster.