Indian Temple Fragment Depicting Feline

Crouching maned cat, ready to pounce and furrowed in decorative curls.

This temple fragment depicting feline is Jain, from Bhojpur, Kutch District, India, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is carved & painted stone. The origins of Jainism are described as obscure, yet it carries a deep body of literature and doctrine, including artistic depictions of history, meditation, religious practice, ethics and cosmology. Tan stone beast crouches with its front legs pressed forward on a flat base. Its mane is cut into rows of tight comma-shaped curls, a spiral marks the haunch, and the rear base is chipped. It is 22 inches wide, 19 deep and 7 high.

All poise and curls, with a slightly chipped heel.