Antique Indian Wooden Temple Sculpture – Female Attendant – Lot 191

Antique Indian wooden temple sculpture with surviving polychromy

This 77 cm standing female figure has the presence of a substantial architectural carving rather than a small devotional object. The long braided hair, large circular ear ornaments, layered jewellery, narrow waist and closely patterned lower garment create a strongly Indian sculptural vocabulary. Her animated stance, with the body shifting through the hips and one leg drawn back, is especially characteristic of an idealised female attendant.

Female attendant / nāyikā

We catalogue the figure as a nāyikā or surasundarī-type temple attendant rather than assigning the name of a specific goddess. Female figures of this kind appear throughout Indian sacred art as auspicious attendants and idealised beauties within larger sculptural programmes. The small object held in the raised hand survives, but its form is not sufficiently clear to identify a more specific iconographic subtype.

Why the historic surface matters

The sculpture retains an unusually layered old surface. Red and ochre-toned colour, black passages and pale preparation layers remain visible in protected recesses beneath the darkened exterior. Craquelure, rubbing on projecting details, shrinkage and accumulated deposits have developed unevenly across the carving. These features are recorded as part of the object’s historic surface; no attempt is made to interpret the dark areas as proof of a particular ritual treatment.

The wood has not been stripped back to a uniform new finish. Tool marks, age cracks and worn pigment remain visible, preserving much of the visual depth that gives old Indian polychrome wood its character.

Dating and regional context

The figure is attributed to India, 18th–19th century. The closest stylistic direction is currently South or East India, with useful parallels in the carved wooden traditions of Tamil Nadu and Odisha. The jewellery, long braid, patterned garment and lively stance support this Indian attribution, while the exact regional workshop remains open to further refinement.

Specifications

Height: 77 cm
Width: 27 cm
Weight: 7.1 kg
Material: solid carved wood with historic polychromy
Origin: India, South or East Indian tradition
Period: 18th–19th century
Type: female temple attendant / nāyikā / surasundarī type

Each object is examined before it is offered: material, casting or carving technique, surface, and signs of age are compared with documented references. You will receive a certificate of authenticity and an official invoice detailing the period, material, and available provenance.

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