Wooden Sacred Guardian Temple Statue, Thailand, 19th Century

Details

Description

A work of exceptional rarity and expressive power, dating back to the 19th century. It is an ancient polychrome wooden … Read more A work of exceptional rarity and expressive power, dating back to the 19th century. It is an ancient polychrome wooden sculpture from a Thai temple, originally conceived as a suspended architectural or decorative element.

Subject and Style: The sculpture depicts a protective deity or mythological creature (likely a stylized Garuda or Yaksha) in the "Atlas" position, with powerful arms raised as if supporting a sacred structure. The face is sculpted with bold, fierce features to ward off evil spirits, framed by a ceremonial headdress. The figure wears finely carved traditional ornaments finished in gold leaf, which stand out against the antique red lacquer background. The crouching posture and the back structure suggest it was a supporting or decorative frieze for an ancient Buddhist temple.

Material and Finish: Made of hand-carved solid wood, painted in earthy red and gold. The back of the sculpture shows signs of manual workmanship with an axe/chisel and features original holes and recesses that allowed it to be anchored or hung on a wall or beam.

Technical Details and Condition:

Type: Temple Sculpture / Architectural Frieze.
Subject: Garuda / Sacred Guardian.
Origin: Thailand / Southeast Asia.
Materials: Polychrome and gilded wood.
Period: Antique (19th Century).
Dimensions: Width 32 cm, Depth 13 cm, Height 44 cm.
Condition: Good condition considering its age. The structure is solid; there are natural cracks in the wood (particularly visible on the arms) due to the natural settling of the material over the centuries. These "grains" do not compromise the stability of the work, but rather certify its authenticity and historical flavor.

Please note that any white areas in the photo shoot are due to reflections from artificial lighting, used to better illuminate the item, which may cause slight color variations in the photograph.

The item is original and is carefully photographed, capturing every detail, highlighting its quality, strengths, and any flaws.

It is sold "as is," and the and photographs are accurate. This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less