Large Wooden Radha Krishna Sculpture | Indian Crafted Idol

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On his head is a high-raising Mukuta (crown), on his neck are two jeweled necklaces, an Udarabandha (belly belt), and a flowing garland of flowers. Ornate carving on his fine dhoti (lower body garment), waist belt, and waist ornament with the Kiritimukha (face of glory) motif enhances the aesthetic appeal of his appearance. With his lotus eyes which are carved stunningly well, Krishna gazes sideways, a playful smile sweeping across his face.

Balancing the playful stillness of Sri Krishna, the dynamically positioned Sri Radha in this wooden statue is the center of attraction. With a swift movement felt in her posture and sharp tilt of her head, she has her eyes fixed on the moon-like face of her beloved. In a lively variation of the Tribhanga, this wooden Sri Radha image is the amalgamation of various traditional Indian markers of ideal female beauty.

Her long hair is tied in a beautiful Juda (bun), her body is ornamented with exquisite jewelry, and she wears a dhoti identical to that of her beloved, whose folds are artistically delineated with finely incised waves. Radha’s left hand is toward the viewer, in the gesture of fearlessness or Abhaya mudra, while in her right hand she holds three lotus flowers in a bunch and has them placed near her upper thigh. This element of women touching their thighs and childbearing area with lotuses is an image found in Indian art and the act is interpreted by art historians in the context of the lotus’s and woman’s connection with fertility.

The Radha-Krishna wooden statue is nestled inside lush foliage which houses several peacocks- the birds that represent the arrival of monsoon (Saawan), the Indian season of love. Skillful use of the vegetation motif by the carver can be observed on the reverse of the statue, where the tassels of the ornaments of the wooden Radha-Krishna statue are turned into floral vines. The lacquered teakwood with perfected finishing has given the bodies of the heavenly couple a mystical tone.

Krishna’s Murli (flute) is nowhere to be seen in this sculpture, but credit is due to the matchless carvings by the maker of this Radha-Krishna wooden statue, upon witnessing which a sweet musical tone begins materializing in the heart and spreads in the environs.

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.