Northern Kerala (South India)
Wood
A fine pair of wedge shaped panels depicting a pair of musicians. Carved in low relief, the bare chested musicians wear dhotis and a simple necklace and have their hair tied up into buns. Conspicuously drawn on their foreheads are namams which are identification marks of Sri Vaishnavites. Their faces are locked in concentration as they play the chanda (cylindrical drum) that is strung over their shoulders. A band of geometric patterns frames the top and bottom of the panels.
Wedged shaped panels such as these would have been loosely strung together to form a ritual headpiece that would have been worn by the chief performer in ceremonial dances associated with temple festivals. The headpiece is boldly conceived , with a central figure of Gaja Laxmi, carved in high relief, seated on a lotus being lustrated by two elephants flanking her. Ten processional figures of musicians and attendants carrying staffs, drums, cymbals, trumpets etc. would have been depicted in low-relief on either side of the central motif.
Size(cms): 26 (H) x 15 (W) x 7 (D)
Size(inches): 10.2 (H) x 5.9 (W) x 2.7 (D)
