Indian Temple Fragment with Monkey Motif, Based

Stepped triangle of frothy carved scrollwork, painted a washed-out sky blue.

This temple fragment with monkey motif is Jain, from Bhojpur, Kutch District, India, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is carved & painted stone. Another kind of Jain cosmological painting shows historical figures and their attributes, such as Jina Parshva, the earliest Jain leader with historical evidence, who is meant to illustrate compassion. Low block set on a wooden plinth, carved with a stepped pediment of dense curling openwork. The pale blue surface is dusty, the rough tan stone is exposed at the top, and a small figure sits on the right. It is 33 inches wide, 16 deep and 11 high.

Frothy, formal, and set in order on a plank.