archway

Part of a carved wooden archway, made from teak wood. This part is a large rectangular panel to run across the top of the archway, with an elaborate carved decoration on one side. The design is of three panels, separated by borders of flora and fauna. These include depictions of a variety of animals including a dog, leopard, tiger, boar, large birds, sheep, goat and deer. The three panels are a large rectangular central panel and a smaller square panel at each end. The panels have been put together with joints and without adhesive, as they move within the outer frame. The square panel to the left depicts a four-armed deity, possibly Lakshmi, holding a lotus bud in her two upper arms. She is set against an eight-petalled lotus, all set within a circle. Around this in high relief is a chain motif border, then a border of acanthus leaves, then an outer border of raised tear or butta shapes. The central panel consists of five doorways, each inset with fretwork, and each flanked by pillars. At the base of each pillar a figure is depicted, with a further depiction of a deity to each side. At each end of these doors is a roughly square section, each containing depictions of the head of a deity being held aloft by another figure. In the square panel to the right is a depiction of a large peacock, now missing its head. The first square border around this is a chain-like design, the second is made up of a design of carved shells. A section of the border is missing at one end.

Collection Information

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