| Rajastani Red |
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| Learn about the legendary Shilpi sculpting community in South India
Explore the genius and time-tested ingenuity of Shilpi stone artistry
Quarried from rare stone deposits in the Northeastern state of Rajastan and imported to Tamil Nadu (in the Southeast), the red marble honed into sacred divinities by the Shilpi masters is paradoxically quite malleable despite its immense density. This allows the Shilpis to carve with great intricacy in very focused areas on the stone, such as the dieties’ mandalas (circular designs that adorn the rear of the head), flowing hair, eyes, writhing serpents, etc. The color contours of this marble can vary from deep vermillion to a light crimson hue, even within one piece, amplifying the absolute uniqueness of each creation. The artist, when first encountering a rough block of this fine marble, has no idea what contours await him within the stone, and so, despite the meticulous stage of designing the iconometry of each piece, has no idea what the final coloring will look like!
© 2007 by Christopher Tompkins. Not to be used without express permission by the author. |
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 -- pic 001.jpg "Lakshmi with Finely Detailed Lotus Throne")
 -- pic 001.jpg "Lord Ganesha Reposed on Shesha Naga (Masterpiece)")
 -- pic 001.jpg "Shiva in Yogic Trance with Quiescent Serpents")
 -- pic 001.jpg "Temple of the Gods (lamp)")
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