Large Vishnu Wooden Temple Sculpture – India, 17th Century
A monumental 17th-century wooden Vishnu temple sculpture from India, finely hand-carved with original polychromy and glass inlay. Its large size, deep historical ageing and powerful presence make it an exceptional and rare temple piece of true museum quality.
Validation Report (VR1)
This sculpture was examined using museum-grade analytical methods. The piece shows authentic hand-carved hardwood, original polychromy layers, historic inlay remains, and multi-century natural surface ageing consistent with a 17th-century Indian temple sculpture. No modern repaint, restoration, or reconstruction is present.
Material: Hardwood with original polychromy and inlay
Technique: Hand-carved, traditional temple workmanship
Size: H 90 × W 44 cm (5.8 kg)
Period: 17th century
Region: India
Condition: Deep natural ageing; stable historic surface; no modern additions
1stbuddha retail valuation: €4.500 – €7.500
Large Vishnu Wooden Temple Sculpture – India, 17th Century
Description
This large 17th-century wooden Vishnu temple sculpture from India represents a powerful and highly authentic example of early Hindu devotional art. Carved from a single block of dense hardwood, the figure retains significant areas of its original polychromy, including deep reds, earthy yellows and traces of mineral pigments. The presence of old glass and stone inlay further supports its temple origin, as this type of embellishment is characteristic of South Indian craftsmanship of the period.
The sculpture shows the traditional iconography of Vishnu: the tall crown, the elongated earlobes, and the vertical tilaka line on the forehead. The body displays classic temple proportions, with broad shoulders, defined torso planes and a rigid, frontal stance typical of ritual images made for fixed shrine placement.
Surface ageing is extensive and entirely authentic. Deep cracks, worn contours, pigment losses and long-term environmental erosion indicate centuries of exposure within a temple structure. This honest condition strongly enhances the object’s historical integrity, giving the sculpture a striking presence and a sense of great antiquity.
Large temple figures of Vishnu with intact polychromy are rarely encountered on the market. This example combines scale, authenticity, and iconographic clarity, making it an exceptional piece for collectors, interior environments, or institutional collections.
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Large Vishnu Wooden Temple Sculpture – India, 17th Century
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