Copper is the oldest metal known to mankind and used in crafts - at least since 8000 B.C - a whole epoch of the Neolithic period is named after it.

This fascinating metal experienced an artistic highpoint with the copperplate engraving in the 16th century. Picasso appreciated this graphical method for its line sharpness and contributed to its revival today. Copper has firmly established itself also in the field of sculpture.

Related links:
Copperplate engraving

A plastic work of sculptural art made of wood, stone, ivory, bronze or other metals.

While sculptures from wood, ivory or stone are made directly from the block of material, for bronze casting a working model is prepared at first. Usually it is made of clay or other easily shaped materials.

The prime time of sculpture after the Roman antiquity was the Renaissance. Impressionism gave a new impulse to the sculptural arts. Also the contemporary artists, such as Jorg Immendorf, Andora, and Markus Lupertz enriched the sculpture with outstanding works.

In the 7th century BC in the biggest distant highlands of Earth there appeared the first Lamaist temples and monasteries of Tibet. On the height of 4,500 meters their number had grown during the years up to 5,000 settlements.

The influence of the Tibetan tradition of temple architecture spread from Nepal to Bhutan and Mongolia. The peak of this art is the Potala-Palast in Lhasa, the Seat of Dalai Lama, which appeared in the 17th century.

The Tibetan art with its colorful variety of rolled pictures and flags is influenced by Chinese and Indian artistic traditions. Pictures of gods, portraits of priests and saints are cast in bronze and later silver gilt or gilded as cult figures.