Indian Ornamental Shrine on Paw Feet

A lotus dome, four pillars and paw feet, ready to walk off with its own shrine.

This ornamental shrine on paw feet comes from Maharashtra, India, and dates to the mid to late 18th century. It is nickel and silver. Domestic shrines in Indian homes often take the form of miniature temple pavilions, giving a household deity its own canopied space. Here four leaf-patterned pillars carry a flat roof crowned by a ribbed lotus dome and finial. Small carved figures stand at the tops of the pillars, and cusped arches hang between them. The square platform has a scalloped backrest and rests on four lion paw feet. It is 14 inches wide and 31 high.

A small temple, firmly on its feet.