Swamimalai Bronze Icons

The Swamimalai bronze icons embody grace and precision. Known for its mystique figures, the craft is an amalgamation of art and science in creating poetic renderings of gods using the lost wax casting technique and centuries of metallurgical technological advancements and experience. Idols of bronze and “panchaloha” of various shapes and sizes are produced for the purpose of pooja. For making the bronze icons, copper, brass and lead are used and for panchaloha, copper, brass, lead silver and gold are used. Alluvial soil from the banks of the river Cauvery is used for making moulds. Sharp knife shaped tools are heated and used in making the wax models. Minute chisels are used for finishing the icon after taking it out of the mould and finely polished with various sized files.All the icons made at Swamimalai are made according to the rules written in the early texts of shilpshastras. No replication is possible. Each piece is individually made and finished.