RAS question
The Chola bronze Nataraja is cast using which technique?
Correct answer: (B) Lost-wax (cire perdue) technique.
The Chola bronze Nataraja is cast by the lost-wax, or cire perdue, technique.
Explanation
Chola bronzes were made through the lost-wax, or cire perdue, technique: the artisan first shaped a finished wax model, coated it with layers of clay to make the mould, heated it so the wax was lost, and then poured molten bronze into the cavity. After cooling, the clay was broken to reveal the sculpture, so each bronze was a unique cast rather than a mechanically repeated object. NCERT's account of Tamil Nadu bronze sculpture states that highly skilled artisans used the lost-wax or cire perdue method, and it identifies the Shiva Nataraja image at the Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, as one of the finest specimens of this sculpture tradition.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Sand casting does not match NCERT's account, which says these bronze sculptures were made from a finished wax model covered with clay layers.
- (C) 3D printing is outside the traditional bronze-casting process described here, which depends on wax, clay, heating and molten bronze.
- (D) Die casting implies a different casting approach, while the lost-wax process uses a clay mould built around a wax model and then broken after the bronze is cast.
Concept
This tests the art-and-culture theme of medieval Indian sculpture, especially Chola bronze iconography and metal-craft techniques. It recurs in RAS because questions often link dynasties with distinctive artistic methods and landmark examples.