How Hindu God Statues are Preserved as Artifacts in Museums

 Art Museums showcase a plethora of statues and sculptures from the ancient period to masterpieces handcrafted by artisans in modern times. Carved from stone or cast in bronze and brass, the statues display enchanting features representing the cultural, traditional, and different artistic styles of the era.

One of the main attractions in Indian Artifacts is the intricately crafted Hindu Gods and Goddesses statues. Some commonly displayed deities are Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga, and Lord Hanuman.

Their iconography and symbolism are appreciated by art connoisseurs across the globe. India is a country with countless artistic talents that are passed down from one generation to another.

South India is especially renowned for brass artistry using the age-old Lost Wax Method which involves several steps. The intricate details are worth seeing and admiring.

Similarly, stone art on walls and pillars is also mastered by Indian sculptors. The designs are known for their extraordinary carvings which bring life to the wall.

Do you ever wonder how museums preserve many centuries-old Hindu God statues as artifacts and yet they remain as fresh as ever? There is a complex process or system of preservation behind it to ensure their longevity and quality.

Let us look at some of the methods:

1. Handling the Artifacts carefully

While moving, placing, or handling the Hindu deities in museums, the staff pays a lot of attention to ensure the masterpieces are supported throughout to create no damage. They use gloves, clean tools, and other specialized equipment when handling them.

Lifting them by their base prevents physical stress and when they are transferred into a vehicle to be transported to a museum, they are placed in containers with padded arrangements to protect them from any potential damage.

2. Controlled Environmental Factors

Statues made of metals, wood, and clay are required to be maintained and protected from several environmental factors. Although highly durable metals, brass and bronze are prone to corrode when not cared for properly over time.

Wood is prone to decay in moisture and high humidity. Thus museums maintain the right temperature and moisture content to prevent the Hindu God statues from deteriorating.

3. Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning and maintenance are an essential part of the preservation of Hindu God statues in art and culture museums. Regular and gentle dusting is done using soft brushes or cloths.

Mild solutions are used to clean off all debris accumulated on the surface of the statues. Even the deepest crevices of the statues are cleaned properly to grant them a fresh and new appeal.

4. Displaying the deities the right way

Displaying Hindu God statues in museums is another element of preserving them as artifacts. They are placed on a stable base made of durable materials such as glass and metals. Thick glass cases or barriers are set up to display them to prevent the statues from any damage in public exhibition.

The proper lighting system is also adjusted – UV-filtered and low radiation lights are designed to prevent the masterpieces' deterioration and focus the light on their intricate details.

5. Installing Security Measures

Installing surveillance systems as well as setting up alarms and sensors protect museum statues from theft and destruction. Motion sensors installed near statues send signals to the authorities as soon as an outside person attempts to steal or damage the statues.

Meanwhile, the surveillance team monitors the area through High-definition cameras to keep a check on the statues.  Fire alarms ring when there is any potential damage in the area.

6. Storage

When the statues are not on display, they are stored in customized glass cases which have a climate-controlled environment within. This also protects them from gross dust particles and physical damage.

7. Educating the audience or visitors

People who visit museums are provided with certain guidelines and are educated on the rules of viewing the displayed statues. The statues are labelled with descriptions informing on their history and the year when they were created.

8. Restoration tools and techniques

The Museum staff are trained to restore the statues if any sort of accidental damage has occurred. The museums are always equipped with repair tools to get the statues back to their original shapes and forms.

Techniques and processes to be carried out depend on the material the statues are made of. Museums showcase centuries-old Hindu God statues for education, research, and the general public pleasure.

However, without proper maintenance and preservation steps, the statues cannot remain in good condition for long. To ensure their longevity, the above-mentioned practices are employed in museums to create a safe environment for future generations to witness ancient artistic traditions.