Indian Temple Fragment with Deity Motif, Based

Seated figure under a pointed arch, framed in blue-white lattice and chipped corners.

This temple fragment with deity 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. Square panel mounted on a black base with a seated figure in a central arched niche. Rows of pierced square patterns run above and below, the pale paint is worn, and the top edge shows tan stone. It is 20.5 inches wide, 7.25 deep and 22 high.

Serene, symmetrical, and a little scuffed around the edges.