Category: Ritual Objects | Tradition: Buddhism | Origin: Nepal, India, and Tibet
A stupa can be made from many materials, and the choice depends on its size, its purpose and the tradition of the maker. Large monuments are built of brick, stone and plaster, while the small stupas used on altars and in homes are most often cast in metal. Most of ours are made of copper or copper alloy, either cast or hammered from plates, and some are made of brass, bronze, silver, white metal, wood or bone, while some pendants and miniature stupas are made of gold. Gilding, silver plating, oxidized finishes and stones such as turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl and zircon are added for decoration. This guide explains each material, shows how they compare and helps you choose and care for a stupa with confidence. The material changes how a stupa looks, feels and ages, but its meaning, as a support for the Buddha's presence and the path to awakening, stays the same.
Materials of Monumental Stupas
The great stupas of the Himalayas and India are built of brick, stone, earth fill and lime plaster, with whitewash on the dome, and with metal used for the spire, the parasol and decorative parts, often gilded. This is the material of architecture, and it is quite different from the small ritual stupas made in metalwork workshops, which are the subject of the rest of this guide.
The Parts of a Stupa and Their Materials
A small metal stupa has the same parts as a large one, and each can use a different finish.
• Base: A stepped or square platform, usually cast in the same metal as the body, and often decorated with lotus petals or carved bands.
• Dome or vase: The rounded body, hollow inside, often carved, gilded or set with stones.
• Harmika and spire: The square section and the stack of thirteen discs, usually in the same metal as the body.
• Parasol and finial: The parasol, crescent moon, sun and jewel at the top, often gilded.
Our stupas are hollow inside, like our statues, so that relics or consecration materials can be placed inside if the customer wishes.
Metals Used for Stupas
Each metal gives a stupa its own color, weight and character. These are the ones we use.
• Copper and copper alloy: The most common material for our stupas. Copper is warm and reddish, easy to cast and carve, and takes gilding, plating and oxidized finishes well.
• Brass: A golden-yellow alloy of copper and zinc, strong and easy to cast and polish.
• Bronze: A darker, heavier alloy, valued for fine cast detail and a traditional feel.
• Silver: A bright, silvery metal used for finer and more precious pieces. It can tarnish over time.
• White metal: A general term for silver-colored alloys, often more affordable than silver. Its exact composition depends on the maker.
• Gold: Used for some pendants and miniature stupas, and for gilding the details of larger ones.
Cast Metal and Hammered Plate
Metal stupas are made in two ways, and the metal is used differently in each. In a cast stupa, the metal is melted and poured into a mold made from a wax model, which suits fine detail and smaller pieces. In a stupa made from plates, sheets of copper, brass or silver are hammered by hand into the parts of the stupa and joined piece by piece. Plates are used for almost every size, from about three inches to as much as forty feet, which makes them the usual choice for large stupas. Some finials and other details may be cast even on a plate stupa, while others are made from plates. Both kinds can be gilded, plated, oxidized, painted and set with stones in the same way.
Wood and Bone
Some stupas are carved from wood or bone. Wooden stupas are lighter than metal ones and can be finely carved or painted, but they are more sensitive to moisture and knocks. Bone is carved into small stupas and pendants, and it is a natural material that varies from one piece to the next. If you want to know exactly what a piece is made of, the product page lists the material, and it is reasonable to ask us any questions.
Finishes: Gilding, Plating and Oxidizing
The surface finish gives a stupa its final look and is a different thing from the metal beneath it.
• Gold gilding or gold plating: A thin layer of gold over copper or another base metal, which gives a bright golden surface and brings out the detail. Gilding can soften at the edges and high points with handling, which many people see as part of a piece's character.
• Silver plating: A thin layer of silver over a base metal, giving a silvery finish at a lower cost than solid silver.
• Oxidized finish: A darkened surface that gives contrast to the carving, with the raised parts left brighter.
A stupa that looks gold or silver is not necessarily made entirely from precious metal, which is why it is reasonable to ask whether a listing means solid metal, plating or only the color.
Stones Used for Decoration
Stones are set into the metalwork to add color. We use turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl and zircon, among others. Turquoise and lapis give blue tones, coral gives red, pearl a soft white shine and zircon a bright sparkle. Natural stones vary in color, markings and shape, so no two stupas are exactly the same. The stones are decorative additions and are not needed for a stupa to carry its meaning.
Materials at a Glance
This table compares the main materials at a glance. Individual pieces vary with the maker, the finish and the decoration, so treat it as a general guide.
|
Material |
Look and feel |
Typical use |
|
Copper and copper alloy |
Warm, reddish, easy to cast and carve |
Most stupa bodies, often gilded or plated |
|
Brass |
Golden-yellow, strong |
Stupas of all sizes |
|
Bronze |
Darker and heavier, holds fine detail |
Traditional cast pieces |
|
Silver |
Bright and silvery, can tarnish |
Finer and more precious pieces |
|
White metal |
Silvery, lower cost, varies by alloy |
Silver-colored stupas |
|
Gold |
Rich and warm |
Pendants, miniatures and gilding |
|
Wood |
Light, can be carved or painted |
Carved stupas, sensitive to moisture |
|
Bone |
Natural, varies from piece to piece |
Small stupas and pendants |
|
Turquoise, lapis, coral, pearl, zircon |
Colored and bright stones |
Inlays on the metalwork |
Which Material Is Best?
• For a traditional altar stupa: Gilded copper, with its warm color and lasting finish.
• For fine detail: Bronze or copper alloy, which hold carved detail well.
• For a precious piece or gift: Silver, or a well-made silver-plated or gilded stupa.
• For a lower cost: Brass or white metal.
• For a pendant or miniature: Small gold, silver or bone stupas.
The metal and the finish are two different things. A golden stupa may be gilded copper, and a silver-colored one may be white metal, so a good description will say which.
How to Care for Different Materials
Dust metal stupas with a soft, dry cloth and keep them away from water and harsh polish. Keep silver and white metal dry, since they tarnish, and avoid rubbing gilded or plated pieces hard, because the finish can wear. Stones should be kept clean and dry and protected from knocks. Wood and bone should be kept away from damp and strong heat.
How Our Stupas Are Made of These Materials
We offer almost all types and sizes of stupa, from about three inches to as much as forty feet. Most are made of copper or copper alloy, and some of brass, bronze, silver, white metal, wood or bone, with gold used for some pendants and miniatures. The metal pieces are finished with gold gilding or plating, silver plating or an oxidized surface, and decorated with turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl, zircon and other stones. Our stupas are hollow inside, so that relics or consecration materials can be placed inside if the customer wishes. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a stupa made of?
Large stupas are built of brick, stone and plaster. Small ritual stupas, like ours, are most often cast in copper or copper alloy, and also in brass, bronze, silver, white metal, wood or bone.
Are your stupas cast or hammered?
Both. Some are cast from a wax model, and others are made from copper, brass or silver plates that are hammered into shape and assembled piece by piece.
Are your stupas solid or hollow?
They are hollow inside, so that relics or consecration materials can be placed inside them if the customer wishes.
Are the gold and silver parts solid?
It depends on the piece. Many are gilded or plated copper, and solid gold and silver are used for some small pendants and miniatures. The product page says what each piece is made of.
What stones are used?
Turquoise, coral, lapis, pearl and zircon, among others, depending on the piece.
What is the best material for a home altar stupa?
Copper or copper alloy, often gilded, is the most common choice, since it is durable and takes fine carving. The best choice depends on your budget and taste.
Are your stupas blessed?
No. We do not sell blessed items, but we can arrange filling and a blessing at your request on your behalf.
Explore Our Stupas
Read more: What Is a Stupa? | How Is a Stupa Made?