The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery remain temporarily closed. To view the status of the Smithsonian’s other museums and zoo visit si.edu/museums. The Freer and Sackler are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and as needed basis. Please read our full statement.
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  • India: Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance)
  • Bronze Casting
  • Images: Bronze Casting

Images: Bronze Casting

Incomplete wax sculpture being worked on by a pair of metal tweezers holding a small piece of dammar resin.
Rough wax sculpture, yet lacking arms.
Artist's hands working to sculpt a delicate forearm and hand out of wax.
Two young artists packing clay around a wax model of a figure.
Wax figure obscured by several layers of clay.
Clay-encased wax model held together with thick metal wires.
Young man tending to a mud and straw covered brick fire pit as smoke vents through a hole in the top.
Metalworkers pouring a crucible of molten metal into the mold.
After cooling for several days, the clay mold is broken to reveal a rough version of the sculpture.
Sculptor chipping away clay with hammer and chisel to reveal shiny metal beneath.
Sculptors carefully removing clay from the sculpture's face.
Nearly-finished sculpture, polished to a shine except for the face, which is still dull and gray, waiting to be polished by the master craftsman.

Back to Bronze Casting

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