Architectural Facade
17th century-18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Elaborate doorways of this kind were a traditional device for providing privacy and maintaining security for devotional images. The elaboration and scale of this example suggest that it would have been installed in a very wealthy Jain home, where it would have protected the family's household images.
The shrine has an elaborate threshold decorated with lotus designs and pairs of elephants. The doors are finely carved, with a recurring pattern of eight-pointed stars inset with a raised flowering lotus. The doorjambs are flanked by attendant ‘dvarapala’ (door guardians) on the lower section, and there are ‘gandharva’ (celestial musicians) at intervals above.
The bearded ascetic depicted at the lower left is Narada, a ‘risi’ associated with Brahma and chief of the heavenly musicians. The pedimental figure depicts Sri-Laksmi, surrounded by celestial attendants and adoring creatures.
Household shrines were frequently of wood and were modelled directly after stone temple shrines such as those to be seen at Vimala Vasahi on Mount Abu, built in 1032. Wood was a favoured material for the decoration of interiors of Jain household shrines and small temples. The earliest Jain temples at Mount Satrunjaya were of wood but were replaced by stone structures as awareness of the dangers of fire became more acute.
The shrine has an elaborate threshold decorated with lotus designs and pairs of elephants. The doors are finely carved, with a recurring pattern of eight-pointed stars inset with a raised flowering lotus. The doorjambs are flanked by attendant ‘dvarapala’ (door guardians) on the lower section, and there are ‘gandharva’ (celestial musicians) at intervals above.
The bearded ascetic depicted at the lower left is Narada, a ‘risi’ associated with Brahma and chief of the heavenly musicians. The pedimental figure depicts Sri-Laksmi, surrounded by celestial attendants and adoring creatures.
Household shrines were frequently of wood and were modelled directly after stone temple shrines such as those to be seen at Vimala Vasahi on Mount Abu, built in 1032. Wood was a favoured material for the decoration of interiors of Jain household shrines and small temples. The earliest Jain temples at Mount Satrunjaya were of wood but were replaced by stone structures as awareness of the dangers of fire became more acute.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Teak with traces of pigment |
| Brief description | Facade of a ghar derasar or domestic shrine (house temple), teak, Ahmedabad, 17th to 18th century. |
| Physical description | Facade of a domestic shrine with an elaborate threshold decorated with lotus designs and pairs of elephants. The doors are finely carved, with a recurring pattern of eight-pointed stars inset with a raised flowering lotus. The doorjambs are flanked by attendant dvarapala (door guardians) on the lower section, and there are gandharva (celestial musicians) at intervals above. At the far left and right are elaborate pillars that imitate the conventions of Gujarati stone architecture, with compartmentalized sections, and the lower panel given over to attendant figures. The bearded ascetic depicted at the lower left is Narada, a rishi (sage) associated with Brahma and chief of the heavenly musicians. A small awning supported winged angels projects above the doorway, with garland bearers and divine musicians decorating the lintel frieze. The pedimental figure of Sri-Lakshmi, surrounded by celecial attendants and two extraordinary makara (mythical monsters). |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Purchased from Messrs J. Watson & Son, 10 South Molton Street, Oxford Street, London, W |
| Object history | Correspondence associated with its purchase in Ahmedabad in 1910 gives no clue as to its origins, beyond stating that the shrine facade was "recently removed from its original position (unspecified) and replaced by a modern marble shrine". Purchased from Messrs J. Watson & Son, 10 South Molton Street, Oxford Street, London, W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1910-3863M |
| Historical context | Wood was a favoured material for the decoration of interiors of Jain household shrines and small temples It is recorded that the earliest Jain temples at Mount Satrunjaya were of wood, but these were replaced by stone structures as awareness of the dangers of fire became more acute. Elaborate doorways of this kind were a traditional device for providing privacy and maintaining security for the images. Household shrines were frequently in wood and were modelled directly in stone temple shrines such as those to be seen at Vimala Vasahi on Mount Abu, built in 1032. The elaboration and scale of this example suggest that it would have been installed in a very wealthy Jain home, where it would have protected the family's household images. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Elaborate doorways of this kind were a traditional device for providing privacy and maintaining security for devotional images. The elaboration and scale of this example suggest that it would have been installed in a very wealthy Jain home, where it would have protected the family's household images. The shrine has an elaborate threshold decorated with lotus designs and pairs of elephants. The doors are finely carved, with a recurring pattern of eight-pointed stars inset with a raised flowering lotus. The doorjambs are flanked by attendant ‘dvarapala’ (door guardians) on the lower section, and there are ‘gandharva’ (celestial musicians) at intervals above. The bearded ascetic depicted at the lower left is Narada, a ‘risi’ associated with Brahma and chief of the heavenly musicians. The pedimental figure depicts Sri-Laksmi, surrounded by celestial attendants and adoring creatures. Household shrines were frequently of wood and were modelled directly after stone temple shrines such as those to be seen at Vimala Vasahi on Mount Abu, built in 1032. Wood was a favoured material for the decoration of interiors of Jain household shrines and small temples. The earliest Jain temples at Mount Satrunjaya were of wood but were replaced by stone structures as awareness of the dangers of fire became more acute. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.342-1910 |
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| Record created | May 3, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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