Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Buddhism | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
A metal stupa is made in one of two traditional ways. Many stupas are cast, following the same path as a statue: a wax model, a clay mold, molten metal, careful carving, finishing and decoration. Others are built from copper, brass or silver plates that are hammered and shaped into the different parts of the stupa and then assembled piece by piece. Both methods end in a hollow, gilded or plated and stone-set stupa. This guide walks through both, from planning the design to the final check, and explains the main stages such as lost-wax casting, hammering plates, carving, gilding or plating, and stone setting. It describes the traditional approach of Himalayan artisans at craft level. Exact methods vary between workshops, sizes and designs, and any filling or consecration of a stupa belongs to a teacher and a lineage, not to the workshop.
The Tradition of Himalayan Metalwork
Nepal, and the Kathmandu Valley in particular, has been known for centuries for metalwork and sacred art, and the making of stupas, statues and other ritual objects is part of that tradition. The craft is passed from one generation of artisans to the next, and the work is often shared among specialists: a wax modeler, a caster, a plate worker who hammers and shapes sheet metal, a carver and chaser, a gilder and a stone setter. Because the form of a stupa follows tradition, the maker follows an established pattern for the base, the dome, the harmika, the spire of discs and the parasol, and does not invent them. Cast stupas are made much like statues, and the same workshops often do both, while stupas built from plates use the skills of the sheet-metal worker.
Step 1: Planning the Design and Choosing the Metal
Making a stupa begins with a plan. The maker decides on the type of stupa, such as a Kadam style stupa or one of the Eight Great Stupas, on its size and its decoration, and on whether it will be cast or built from hammered plates. Stupas are made in almost every size, from about three inches to as much as forty feet, depending on the customer's request. The metal is chosen to match: copper or copper alloy for most pieces, brass or bronze for others, and silver, white metal or gold for special ones. The proportions of the base, the dome and the spire follow traditional rules, which the artisan learns through training and from older examples. The details are agreed before any wax is cut or any metal is poured.
Making a Cast Stupa
The next steps, from the wax model to the pouring of the metal, describe the casting method, which is commonly used for small and medium stupas and for detailed parts.
Step 2: Modeling in Wax
The stupa is first modeled in wax, which can be shaped and carved easily. The base, the dome, the harmika, the thirteen discs and the parasol are formed, and details such as lotus petals and bands are added. Large stupas are modeled in several parts, so that each part can be cast on its own. The wax model is checked carefully, since every detail in the wax will appear in the metal.
Step 3: Making the Mold
The wax model is covered in layers of clay, which dry and harden around it. The mold is then heated so that the wax melts and runs out, leaving a hollow cavity in the exact shape of the model. This is why the method is called lost-wax casting. The mold also leaves the inside of the dome and base open, which is why a cast stupa, like a statue, is hollow inside.
Step 4: Pouring the Metal
The metal is melted in a crucible and poured into the cavity in the mold. Once it has set and cooled, the clay shell is broken away and the rough casting is lifted out. Because the mold is broken each time, every cast piece is unique, even when it is made from a model that is used again.
Step 5: Cleaning and Carving the Casting
The rough casting is then worked by hand. The artisan removes the channels and flaws left by the pour, and files and smooths the surface. Then comes the detailed work with small chisels and punches, called chasing and engraving. The lotus petals, the borders, the bands on the harmika and the lines of the discs are refined, and any carved motifs are cut into the surface. This is the stage that gives a stupa its character, and it takes patience, since each line is cut by hand and cannot be undone.
Making a Stupa from Hammered Metal Plates
A stupa can also be made without casting, from plates of copper, brass or silver. This is a different craft from lost-wax casting. Instead of pouring metal into a mold, the artisan shapes flat sheets of metal by hand into the parts of the stupa and builds the stupa up piece by piece. It is used for almost every size, from small stupas of about three inches to very large ones of as much as forty feet, and it is especially suited to large stupas, since they can be made in sections.
• Planning and cutting: The parts of the stupa, such as the base, the dome, the harmika, the discs and the parasol, are planned and laid out, and the plates are cut to the shapes needed.
• Hammering and shaping: Each plate is hammered by hand into its form, such as a curved dome, a stepped base or a round disc. The metal is softened by heating when needed and worked over and over until the shape is true. Raised details such as lotus petals and bands can be worked in relief by hammering from behind and then refined from the front.
• Joining: The shaped parts are then joined. Depending on the design and on the place where the stupa will stand, the joints may be soldered, brazed or riveted, or the parts may be fitted together at their joining points. Large stupas are often made in sections and assembled where they are to be placed.
• Cast and plate details: Some parts, such as a finial or an ornament, may be cast, while others are made from plates as well. The maker chooses whichever method suits the part.
• Finishing: The joins are cleaned and smoothed, and the surface is finished by hand. The stupa then goes on to the same finishing steps as a cast stupa, from gilding or plating to stone setting.
A stupa built this way is hollow because it is made as a shell, with an open space inside, so it can be filled at the customer's request in the same way as a cast one.
Step 6: Joining the Parts
When a stupa is made in several parts, whether cast or hammered, they are joined into one piece. The base, the dome, the harmika, the spire and the parasol are fitted together and secured so that they form one firm, balanced object with nothing loose or crooked. The maker checks that the axis is straight and that the proportions are even, and that the hollow inside is clear.
Step 7: Gilding, Plating, Painting and Finishing
The finished metal is then given its surface. Many stupas are gilded in gold, or plated in gold or silver, to give a bright surface that brings out the carving, others are given an oxidized finish, which darkens the surface and leaves the raised parts bright, and some are painted. The same finishes are used on both cast and hammered stupas. Gilding and plating are skilled work done by experienced craftspeople, and the surface is then polished by hand. The aim is to make the carving easy to read, not to hide it.
Step 8: Setting Stones
Where the design calls for it, stones such as turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl and zircon are set into the metalwork. Each stone is placed in a small setting made for it and secured so that it does not loosen with handling. The stones are arranged for balance of color along the base and the dome. If imitation stones are used, the honest course is to say so.
Making Stupas in Wood and Bone
A wooden or bone stupa is made in a different way. The carver cuts the form of the stupa from seasoned wood or from bone, shaping the base, the dome and the spire with chisels and files and then smoothing the surface. Wooden stupas are often painted or finished with a protective coat. Bone is carved into small stupas and pendants. These materials are lighter and more sensitive to moisture and knocks than metal, so a good finish matters.
Making Pendants and Miniature Stupas
Small pendants and miniature stupas are made in the same way, only on a smaller scale, with finer tools and more care. Some are made in gold. Their small size makes the carving and the joining more delicate.
Step 9: Final Inspection
At the end, the finished stupa is inspected. The maker checks the shape and balance of the stupa, the security of the joins and the stones, the finish of the gilding or plating and the clarity of the carving. It is looked over for rough edges, loose parts and marks, and the hollow inside is checked to make sure it is clean and open. A stupa that passes is cleaned and made ready to be sent out. This final look is one reason handmade pieces are valued, since each one has been checked by people who know the craft.
Why Every Handcrafted Stupa Is Different
Because the wax is modeled or the plates are hammered, the carving is done and the finishing is applied by hand, no two stupas are exactly alike. Small differences in the proportions, the depth of the carving, the gilding and the stones are natural, and they are signs of handwork and not flaws. A machine-made piece can look perfectly uniform, but a handcrafted stupa carries the character of the maker and the materials. This is why each stupa is described on its own product page.
How Our Stupas Are Made
We offer almost all types and sizes of stupa, from about three inches up to as much as forty feet, depending on the customer's request, and we make them in the traditional ways described above. Cast stupas are made as statues are: a wax model is made and molten metal is poured to take its shape, and then our artisans carve the stupa. Other stupas are made from copper, brass or silver plates, which our artisans hammer and shape into the different parts and then assemble piece by piece, by soldering, brazing, riveting or fitting the parts together, depending on the form and on the place where the stupa will stand. Some finials and other parts may be cast, while others are made from plates. Either way, the stupa is then gilded in gold, plated in gold or silver, oxidized or painted, and decorated with stones such as turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl and zircon. Our stupas are hollow inside, so that they can be filled with relics or consecration materials. Because the work is handmade, sizes and finishes vary, so each product page lists the materials and the details of that piece.
Our stupas are not filled and not blessed. Filling and blessing are arranged only at the customer's request, on the customer's behalf. Many people prefer to ask their own teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a stupa made by hand?
Our stupas are modeled, cast, carved, gilded or plated, and set with stones by skilled artisans, although some stages may use simple tools.
How is a metal stupa cast?
A wax model is covered in clay and heated so that the wax runs out, and molten metal is poured into the hollow mold. The mold is then broken to release the casting.
How is a stupa made from metal plates?
Copper, brass or silver plates are cut and hammered by hand into the parts of the stupa, such as the base, dome and discs, and then joined and assembled piece by piece. This is a different method from casting and is used for stupas of almost every size.
What sizes can a stupa be?
From small stupas of about three inches to large ones of as much as forty feet. The size depends on the customer's request.
Why are your stupas hollow?
Because cast stupas, like statues, have an open space inside, and stupas made from plates are built as shells. Either way, relics or consecration materials can be placed inside if the customer wishes.
What finishes do you use?
Gold gilding or gold plating, silver plating, or an oxidized finish, often with stones set in the metalwork.
How are the stones set?
Each stone is placed in a small setting in the metalwork and secured by hand.
Are your stupas filled or blessed?
No. Filling and blessing are done only at the customer's request, on the customer's behalf.
How long does it take to make a stupa?
It depends on the size, the detail and the finish. Modeling, casting, carving, gilding and stone setting each take time, and the work is done in stages.
Explore Our Stupas
Read more: What Is a Stupa? | What Is a Stupa Made Of?