Ancient Indian sculptures | wood - bronze - stone

Ancient Indian sculptures bring together religious and architectural works made in wood, bronze and stone, reflecting more than a thousand years of artistic creation on the Indian subcontinent. Rooted in Hindu, Buddhist or Jain traditions, they depict the great deities of the Indian pantheon, as well as temple elements, carved panels from South India, Chola bronzes and devotional objects intended for shrines or private homes.

This selection brings together works from different regions of India, notably Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Odisha and Chettinad. Wooden sculptures, often from temple chariots or architectural elements, sit alongside bronzes in the Chola tradition as well as stone works, illustrating the richness and diversity of Indian sacred art.

A large part of these works comes from the collection assembled by Claude de Marteau, who travelled across Asia for several decades to build a remarkable group of ancient art. This documented provenance provides valuable insight into the works’ history and the context in which they were acquired.

Here you will find depictions of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Meenakshi, Sundareshwarar, as well as many other major figures of Indian iconography, selected for their artistic quality, authenticity and historical interest.