TWO DEVOTIONAL MICA PAINTINGS OF SHAIVA LINGAMS
Tiruchirappalli (Trichinopoly), Tamil Nadu, Southern India, 19th century

Opaque pigments on mica, comprising two leaves in vertical format, one panel featuring a half-clad Shaiva devotee dressing a lingam with a flower garland, the latter with a lingam clad with flower garlands and blessed shawls, surmounted by a five-headed naga snake and three lotus flowers, each panel accompanied by a pencil inscription in English at the bottom describing the scene, the largest 10.8cm x 15cm.