A FINELY CARVED SANDALWOOD BOX WITH VISHNU'S FOURTH AVATARA, NARASIMHA
Mysore, Karnataka, Southern India, 19th century

Of everted rectangular shape, reminiscent of a casket, resting on a flat base, surmounted by a stepped, sloping, hinged lid, the exterior intricately and finely carved with both figural, animal, and vegetal motifs, the lid featuring a central rectangular panel with Vishnu's fourth avatara, Narasimha, half-man and half-lion, slaying the demon Hiranyakashipu, flanked by Hanuman, the Monkey God, and Krishna holding a pair of snakes, encased within two concentric friezes of foliate and floral sprays, the outer edge embellished with roundels in-filled with mythical animals like makaras, chimeras, and double-headed eagles, and regular birds like peacocks and doves, all set against vegetal meanders, the sides with similar rectangular panels in the centre livened with a number of human and semi-divine figures including Indian dancers, asparas, rulers, kshatriya warriors, and maidens set against a foliate ground underneath a row of arches resting on lotus pedestals, encased within rosette trellis bands, the interior plain, the base marked in English in a black marker '3 Wedderburn road, Hampstead', indicating a previous owner's address, 17.6cm x 44.5cm x 28cm.

This box is a masterful example of South Indian carpenters' gudigar art (sandalwood carving). The world 'gudi' stands for temple in Kannada and the 'gudigar' was an artisan or craftsman specifically trained and skilled in carving wooden lintels and columns, painting panels, sculpting and moulding earth to prepare idols, all traditional arts associated with Hindu temples. Mysore gudigars were considered the most experienced and skilled in the art of sandalwood carving. For further reference and comparison to our lot, please see Christie's London, 10 June 2013, lot 286; 10 October 2014, lot 102; and more recently 25 May 2017, lot 86; and these Rooms, 29 April 2022, lot 245.

Dimensions: 17.6cm x 44.5cm x 28cm