Chola Style Stanchions

This morning Bobby and Kathy Page sent photos of the almost-completed stanchions being made in Colorado in their bronze shop. The posts were designed by Selvanathan Sthapati, our master builder in India, and sculpted by Holly Young. They are designed to hold the remarkable 10-foot-long black granite stone chains. They will serve as handrails on the perimeter of the Temple Builders' Pavilion near Iraivan Temple. Future visitors will stand in awe that these chains are rock, made from a single stone (very carefully!). It changes one's idea of stone to hold these chains and see the working links. Jai to the silpi artisans who can do such magical things with their hands and hearts.

Here a silpi holds one of the chains links up, to show the links really work.

They are currently being \"stored\" on the floor near the vimanam for visitors to marvel at.

Each chain will be held by two stanchions, somewhat like this photo but much more dramatic.

They will go on the perimeter of the pavilion to show one of the wonderments of Iraivan.

This is today\

s progress from the Pages. One end of each chain fits into these keyholes, and the chain is twisted to lock it in place, much like a lightbulb.'

The other end hangs on this fancy hook.

From above.

This is the wax for one of the bottoms, to be cast in metal.

And this is the metal from the foundry before it is welded together and polished.

Welding marks which are now invisible. Next, we will work on the patina.

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