Indian Wood Temple Frame

Deep stepped frames funnel toward a plain, tall opening.

This carved teak temple frame is from Karnataka, South India, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is carved teak wood. Teak is a dense, durable hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia, and it resists moisture and insects well, which is why it is favored for temple and house carving. Upright panel with a plain, weathered upper block and nested rectangular borders lined with small beads. The center holds a clean rectangular window, and the reddish-brown surface is dry and cracked in places. It is 4.75 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 8.75 high.

A great deal of careful stepping for a simple hole.