Indian Carved Panel Depicting Two Horse Heads

Two horses, a rosette and a row of red windows. Restraint was evidently not the brief.

From Gujarat, India, this carved panel depicting two horse heads dates to the 19th century and is made of Burmese teakwood. Carving of this density belonged to Gujarat's wooden architecture, where trading families announced their standing on the street front of the house. The horse heads rise above the upper edge between panels of star lattice and leafy scrolls. A stepped block at the right holds a green rosette. Below, red rectangles alternate with fish-scale carving. About five feet wide, at fifty-nine inches, and sixteen high.

Teak holds a grudge and a chisel line about equally well.