Repousse - A Metal Art
Metal art is an important genre of Nepalese tradition. In Newari, it is called Thwojya which is the process of building different art and craft in metals like copper, silver, brass etc by hitting it from up and down. In English, it is called Repousse, which came from France that literally means to ‘push back’.
The metal art was developed in 3rd century in the middle-east area. In current situation, the metallic instruments are formed through the liquid substance. The Bronze Greek Armour Plates are the example of metal art.
In case of Nepal, the development of metal art was seen in Lichhavi period. Probably, the development of metal art may be developed before the period of Lichhavi but as per the findings, the development was found to be from Lichhavi period. In the period of Mallas, there was rapid growth of metal art. The development carried on on Prithvi Narayan Shah’s period too, the Gorkhali King. The sample of the metal art till today in Nepal are the four doors including ox of Pashupatinath, the Chaitya of Swayambhu nath, the Krishna Mandir of Patan, Guru Dasana ofChangunarayan etc. In 1795,the then King Rana Bahadur Shah assigned to make 12 Ft tall Sweta Bhairav’s face which is exhibit to all public in Basantapur in every Indra Jatra.
Repousse– science and art
The Statue of Liberty in New York and the 155 feet tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava have been designed and crafted using the same techniques, skills and perhaps even the same tools. If and when the New York statue needs repair, it may be worth noting that the science and art are well and alive in the Kathmandu valley. In English, the process of turning sheet metal into these beautiful shapes is simply called embossing; and is basically a metal working technique in which malleable sheet metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side. What is really fascinating is the fact that Raj Kumar and his team were able to do this on 70,000 kilograms of copper sheets to create a statue in a remote part of Bhutan. When large statues are made, a cement or concrete pedestal is built along with a steel /iron structure. The repousse copper sheets are then gas welded together; and then parts of it are either gold plated or painted.
Likewise, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the 155 feet tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava have been designed and crafted using the same techniques, skills and perhaps even the same tools. If and when the New York statue needs repair, it may be worth noting that the science and art are well and alive in the Kathmandu valley. In English, the process of turning sheet metal into these beautiful shapes is simply called embossing; and is basically a metal working technique in which malleable sheet metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side. What is really fascinating is the fact that Raj Kumar and his team were able to do this on 70,000 kilograms of copper sheets to create a statue in a remote part of Bhutan. When large statues are made, a cement or concrete pedestal is built along with a steel /iron structure. The repousse copper sheets are then gas welded together; and then parts of it are either gold plated or painted.