Indian Carved Pillar with Animal Faces on Capitol: Stone Base

Animal faces crowd the top of this column, apparently unconcerned by the view.

This carved pillar with animal faces on the capital and a stone base is wood and stone, from Palanpur, Gujarat, India, mid 19th century. Gujarat has a long tradition of richly carved wooden architecture, in houses and temples alike. Bands of leaf and bead carving wind in a diagonal spiral up the round shaft, over a mottled gray-brown surface. At the top, reddish faces peer from a mass of curling leaves. The pale stone base is square and softly molded. It stands 105 inches high, close to nine feet.

Somebody below was being watched.