Indian Base for Column with Lion Motif

Two lion masks flank a curved drum carved like a tiny colonnade, all in white marble.

This base for column with lion motif is Jain, from Kutch District, Gujarat, India, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved marble. The marble temples of Gujarat and Rajasthan are celebrated for carving so fine it can look like lace, and protective lion masks appear widely on their bases, brackets and doorways. This block centers on a half-round drum ringed with miniature pointed arches. At each side, a lion face with bulging eyes and curling, feathered whiskers presides over a band of upright leaves. It is 27.5 inches wide, 22.5 deep and 7 high.

Holding up a column is serious work, and these lions look the part.