Carved wooden panels from South India

This selection brings together architectural panels and decorative carved wood elements primarily from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in southern India. Crafted between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these decorations were integrated into doors, lintels, passages, or structural elements of traditional domestic architecture.

Some panels can be linked to the productions of Chettinad, a region famous for the opulent mansions built by the Chettiars, a merchant community that prospered through maritime trade with Southeast Asia. The houses of this region were distinguished by their carved woodwork, monumental doors, and decorations blending floral motifs, narrative scenes, stylized birds, and protective creatures inspired by Hindu iconography.

The openwork, the depth of the reliefs, and the density of the woods used testify to the expertise of southern Indian artisans in the field of architectural sculpture. Today, these antique panels are sought after as much for their decorative presence as for the graphic richness of their carved compositions.