Cholan Arts is a destination for authentic handcrafted bronze and brass artefacts, rooted in the rich artistic heritage of Tamil Nadu. Each piece is created using time-honoured techniques, preserving a legacy that continues across generations.
Cholan Arts Emporium showcases a diverse and carefully curated collection, including bronze and brass sculptures, silver jewellery, precious and semi-precious jewellery, silk paintings, stoles, as well as cotton and handloom textiles. Pandian takes a personal interest in engaging with visitors, sharing insights into the craftsmanship, symbolism, and cultural significance behind each piece, thereby creating a meaningful connection between the art and the buyer.
In 2007, with a vision to support and sustain traditional artisans, he established his own foundry at Swamimalai, the heartland of Chola Bronze casting. This initiative not only ensured authenticity in production but also provided skilled artisans with dignified livelihoods. All sculptures are handcrafted using the ancient lost-wax casting technique, where each piece is unique, and no two creations are ever identical, making every artwork truly exclusive.
As the business grew, Cholan Arts Emporium expanded its presence with branches in Tiruvannamalai (1998), Kumbakonam (2007), and Madurai (2012). The Tiruvannamalai showroom holds a special place, featuring a distinctive collection of spiritual literature from renowned masters and gurus. Carefully curated from across the country, this collection offers visitors an opportunity for introspection, spiritual enrichment, and a deeper sense of connection.
Today, Cholan Arts Emporium stands as a sought-after destination for global travellers seeking authentic Indian handicrafts. Through its commitment to preserving rare art forms, especially the traditional Chola Bronze casting, which is increasingly at risk of decline, the emporium continues to play a vital role in reviving and sustaining this invaluable heritage.
Each showroom reflects the spirit of India’s cultural and spiritual richness, offering artefacts that are not only aesthetically striking but also deeply rooted in tradition, enabling visitors to experience the timeless legacy of Indian art and craftsmanship.
Every piece at Cholan Arts is handcrafted using traditional methods, ensuring originality and integrity. No two creations are ever identical, reflecting the true nature of artisanal work.
We are custodians of a centuries-old craft. Through our work and our foundry in Swamimalai, we ensure that traditional techniques like the lost-wax process continue to thrive across generations.
Our artefacts are deeply rooted in India’s spiritual and cultural traditions. Each piece carries meaning, symbolism, and a connection to heritage beyond its visual appeal.
From raw material to final detailing, every stage is handled with care and expertise. Skilled artisans dedicate weeks to perfect each sculpture, down to the finest detail.
While we remain true to classical forms, we present them in ways that resonate with modern spaces and global audiences - without compromising authenticity.
We work closely with artisans, ensuring consistent opportunities and preserving their livelihoods, while maintaining the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship.
Lost wax casting is one of humanity's oldest and most refined sculptural arts, transforming simple wax carvings into timeless metal masterpieces. By encasing a wax figure in clay and burning it away, craftsmen pour molten bronze into the resulting void, revealing breathtaking sculptures of unmatched detail and singular beauty.
The midribs of coconut tree leaves are used for the outline of the proposed model of the statue. No devices are used for measurements.
Using the measurements taken, handmade skeleton beeswax models are crafted, marked with major lines and divisions.
The wax model is covered with the clay, leaving a small hole at the bottom and is left to dry for a few days without any disturbance to the structure.
The clay-covered wax models are baked in fire, and one can witness the wax inside run out in a melted condition, leaving behind only the clay model. This is the moment where the term Lost Wax becomes True, turning the model “Only one of its kind”.
An alloy of five metals, Zinc, Copper, Tin, Silver and Gold, is heated to form a metal called “Panchaloka”(combination of Five metals). The alloy is heated to a very high temperature of 1400 degrees Celsius. The heated mixture is poured from the crucible into the embryo carefully. The embryo is allowed to cool for a few days.
The outer clay layer of the embryo is removed very carefully with chisels, and the statue taken out is now ready for further processing by the artisans. The entire team works on the statue, chiselling and filing for weeks, turning it into a beautiful statue with all minute details like fingernails and the statue is further adorned with jewels, hairstyles, and crowns. Bas reliefs are made with similar procedures.
Pandian, Founder of Cholan Arts Emporium, Tiruchirappalli, established the enterprise in 1994, driven by a deep passion for India’s rich artistic heritage. His journey in the handicrafts sector began as early as 1985, and in 1994, he ventured independently into the handicrafts business, laying the foundation for what would later become a distinguished name in traditional arts.
With decades of experience, Pandian has consistently worked towards preserving and promoting India’s indigenous art forms. He strongly believes that handicrafts are not merely products, but living expressions of heritage, embodying traditional knowledge, craftsmanship, and cultural identity. His passion lies in Chola Bronze and brass artefacts, inspired by the grandeur of the Chola dynasty and its timeless artistic legacy.
At Cholan Arts, every creation reflects a tradition that has been shaped and refined over generations. Our focus is not just on the finished piece, but on the integrity of the process behind it.
By working closely with skilled artisans and maintaining our own foundry in Swamimalai, we ensure that each sculpture is crafted using time-honoured methods, without compromise.
Our role is to sustain the authenticity of Indian craftsmanship in its true form.
Every piece we create stands as a reflection of this commitment.