Indian Temple Fragment with Monkey Motif, Based

Block of stone lace perched on a pair of rough wooden slabs, with two figures hiding inside.

This temple fragment with monkey motif is Jain, from Gujarat, India, and dates to the mid 18th century. It is carved & painted stone. Jain texts picture the universe as shaped like a man, broad at the top, narrow in the middle and broad again at the bottom. Square carved stone block with stepped, pierced patterns and what appear to be two small seated figures flanking a central leaf-like motif. It rests on thick, stacked, weathered wood bases with deep grain and splits. It is 15 inches wide, 15 deep and 17 high.

A heavy block, delicately dressed, and propped up respectably.