The Newari Tradition
Patan — City of
Master Craftsmen
Patan has been Nepal's centre of metalwork for over twelve centuries. The Newar people developed copper casting to an unparalleled refinement — their work adorns monasteries from Lhasa to Tokyo.
When you acquire a piece through Yana Craft, you are participating in the preservation of a living cultural tradition. Each copper statue carries within it the skill of generations.
"Each statue must be iconographically perfect — the proportions, the mudra, the expression. The deity must be able to inhabit it."
— Master Craftsman, Patan
From Wax to Gold
The Making of a Statue
01
Wax Modelling
The master sculptor hand-carves every detail in beeswax — expression, mudras, ornaments — a process taking weeks for a single piece.
02
Clay Casting
The wax model is coated in layers of fine clay then fired. The wax melts away, leaving a perfect hollow mold — the ancient lost-wax technique.
03
Copper Pouring
Molten copper is poured into the mold with the concentration of a lifetime of practice. The alloy is carefully prepared to achieve the signature warm lustre.
04
Hand Finishing
Once cooled, each statue is hand-chiselled, polished, and detailed. Eyes are inlaid. Every surface is refined entirely by hand.
05
Gold Plating
Selected pieces receive 24-karat gold gilding applied using traditional fire-gilding methods, giving the warm luminous finish prized by collectors.
06
Consecration
Many statues are brought to local monasteries for consecration by Buddhist monks before leaving Nepal — filling the interior with sacred mantras.
Commission a Piece
We accept bespoke commissions — a specific deity, size, or finish. Each piece is hand-crafted in copper and finished to your specification. Lead time is typically 3–6 months.
Discuss a Commission