How your statue is born
Ninety days, six stages and one family of artisans. Follow the path from a block of wax to the piece on your altar.
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01Days 1 to 10
Sculpted in wax
The master shapes the deity in beeswax, every finger and jewel by hand. This wax figure becomes the soul of the statue.
Seats for the crystal are shaped now -
02Days 11 to 20
Cast in copper
The wax is sealed in clay and melted out. Molten copper fills the hollow it leaves, in the lost wax method Patan has used for centuries.
Copper melts at about 1,085 °C -
03Days 21 to 50
Chased by hand
With fine chisels and a light hammer, the artisan draws out the face, the eyes and each fold of cloth. Here the statue begins to breathe.
Dozens of chisels for one face -
04Days 51 to 70 · Only at Swoyu
Set with natural crystal
The step no other workshop takes. Each crystal is cut to its seat and set into the copper by hand, so it holds tight for generations.
Every stone logged on your certificate -
05Days 71 to 85
Gilded and painted
Gold is laid over the copper and the face is painted with a single hair brush. The eyes are always painted last.
Eyes painted on an auspicious day -
06Days 86 to 90
Blessed and sent home
Monks in Kathmandu consecrate the statue. It travels to you insured, in a fitted wooden case, with its signed crystal certificate.
Ready to bring one home?
Every statue on our shelves has walked this path. Choose yours, or book a video viewing to see it under the lamp first.