Indian Bracket or Shelf with Bird Motif

Square panel crusted in teal and rust, with a figure peering out of a floral halo.

This bracket or shelf with bird motif is from Gujarat, India, and dates to the early 20th century. It is carved & painted teak wood. Carved wooden brackets are a feature of traditional Gujarati architecture, where they are often found under balconies, eaves and shelves in houses and temples. Squarish relief plaque with a raised border and layered scalloped petals around a central face. A form with an upturned shape rises at the top. The surface is richly mottled in green, blue and reddish brown, with small holes. It is 7 inches wide, 5.5 deep and 5 high.

Corroded colors, sculpted confidence, and a lot of petals.