Enquiry about object: 9628
Rare, Indian Processional Temple Silver Plaque
South India 19th century
height: 30.7cm, width: 20.4cm, weight: 416g
Provenance
Private collection, London, UK
This fine plaque of repoussed and chased silver was made to be pinned either to a religious procession chariot (ratha or rath) or to a wooden shrine. It has small holes on the extremities to allow it to be pinned.
It is of pure silver (ie, higher quality than sterling grade). It is heavy and soft as a result.
The plaque is shaped as a South Indian gopuram or monumental temple entrance tower with steps leading to a pair of doors and then six tiers, the top one of which is decorated with five finials – perhaps lingam-yonis. The proportions of the plaque are quite similar to, and might be a stylised version of, the gopuram at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu.
Related copper, brass and silver plaques are illustrated in Aryan & Ayran (2016,p. 188).
The plaque here is rare and beautiful – it has a lovely patina on account of the purity of the silver.
It comes with a quality custom-made display stand.
Above: A gopuram at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu, South India
References
Aryan, S. & B.N. Ayran, Unknown Masterpieces of Indian Folk and Tribal Art, KC Aryan’s Home of Folk Art, 2nd & enlarged ed., 2016.
Nanda, V., & G. Michell, Chidambaram: Home of the Nataraja, Marg, 2004.
