Mukhalinga 05

This large, lost-wax cast brass mukhalinga with stone studded eyes, is from Maharashtra. The mukhalinga is a covering used to give a face or iconic form to the abstract Shiva lingam. The face allowed worshippers to both see and be seen by Shiva and would have been placed over the linga. The top of the Mukalinga’s head and the top knot have been beautifully engraved to resemble hair. Two flower earrings have also been delicately designed on the ears of this beautiful striking piece.
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.