Devi Kavacham

Devi Kavacham is cladding for the stone figure of a goddess. This stunning bronze piece is from North Karnataka and is adorned with two necklaces, and several earrings. She also wears a large three stepped crown on her head, and has a nose piercing.
The ancient art of lost-wax casting dates back nearly 6000 years in India, and the oldest example in the world is from the Indus Valley Civilization. First an artist creates an original model from wax. Everything is then encased with layers of clay, thus becoming a mould for the molten metal that will be poured inside it. When this is poured in, the wax melts and the original is lost. Once the metal hardens, the outer layer of clay is smashed, which is what makes each piece unique.