Stone, metal, glass and steel are all familiar materials for sculpture, but you don't hear so often of the famous "butter flower" sculpture of Tibet. And no, they're not edible. Sculptors use wax as the major medium to bring old legends back to life in new forms.

Don't be misled by the name "butter flower". These sculptures do not involve the Tibetan staple. This unique art form originated in Tibet and usually features religious figures, animals, and flowers. Elegance and great details are the trademark attributes of these works. Local artists are not hampered by space limitations.

"Butter flower" sculpture goes back thousands of years so it has absorbed many of the finest trends of other folk art while retaining its own time-honored Tibetan tradition. Despite the emergence of new art forms, this old one continues to shed its own light with its truly traditional elements.
 
(Chinawestnews.net November 13, 2003)