Antique South Indian Naga Deity Temple Mask, Hand-Carved Polychrome Wood, Nayak Period 18th to 19th Century

Meet the showstopper. A genuine 18th to 19th century temple carving from South India, this Naga deity mask has presence to spare and a backstory to match. Hand carved from a single block of wood, dressed in a kaolin gesso ground and painted in vermilion red, olive green and black with whispers of gold leaf still clinging on, it is the kind of face that quietly runs the room.

At its heart sits a Kirtimukha, the great Face of Glory, fangs bared and tongue out, the auspicious guardian believed to devour misfortune. Above rises a towering crown of cobras, the sacred Naga of Vasuki, while sun ray ear ornaments and a mysterious spine of Kundalini symbolism trace the ascent of consciousness from base to crown. Turn it around and the surprise lands, the entire back is carved as cobra scale armour, a rare bilateral treatment meant to be admired from every angle as it once travelled on a temple chariot. We will leave the rest to your imagination, and your mantelpiece.

Styling & Collectors Inspiration

This is sacred sculpture that loves to hold court. Give it height and a little breathing room, a plinth, a console or a niche, and let the carving do the talking. It sits beautifully within a collection of Asian and devotional art, on a wall of masks, or alone as one dramatic focal point.

• Build a temple wall beside the Balinese Barong Temple Mask for a chorus of carved guardians.
• Echo the Hindu pantheon with the Old Balinese Ganesha Sculpture or the brass Tibetan Ganesha Mask.
• Continue the Indian temple story with the Khajuraho Style Temple Panels.
• Cross continents with the Khmer Bronze Buddha Head for a serene counterpoint.

Wander the full collection here: decosmutia.com/collections/all.

Details

• Object: temple relief Naga deity mask with a Kirtimukha Face of Glory and a cobra crown
• Origin: South India, Tamil Nadu region
• Period and style: Nayak period, 18th to 19th century
• Material: hand carved wood with a kaolin gesso ground
• Decoration: polychrome in vermilion red, olive green and black, with traces of original gold leaf
• Iconography: Vasuki cobra crown, Makara Kundala sun ray ear ornaments, Kundalini and Sushumna spine symbolism
• Special feature: bilateral carving with a cobra scale armour back, made to be viewed in the round
• Height: 37 cm
• Width: 20 cm at the crown, 19 cm at the centre, 11.5 cm at the base
• Depth: 11 cm
• Weight: approximately 1.5 kg
• Condition: very good antique condition with original surface and patina. Please do not clean, as the gesso layer is water sensitive
• Quantity: one only, a genuine one off
  

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