Indian Carved Panel – Lintel with Lotus and Annapakshi

This Indian carved panel in ancient wood features deeply carved lotus and mythical Annapakshi bird motifs in a piece of East Indian satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia), a species renowned for its density and fine grain.

• L 77 cm x H 26 cm x D 4.5 cm
• Particularly dense wood, weight: 5.95 kg

Indian Carved Architectural Panel

Crafted from dense, finely worked wood, this panel features a lively decoration of stylized birds, lotus flowers, and intertwined plant motifs. Its proportions and construction suggest its use as an architectural lintel, a door element, a wall panel in a Chettinad residence, or a fragment of religious interior decor.

The deeply carved figures appear to belong to the repertoire of Annam / Annapakshi, mythical birds related to the Hamsa in South Indian tradition. Associated with Sarasvati, the Hamsa notably symbolizes knowledge, wisdom, and purity. Depending on the region and workshops, its iconography oscillates between a sacred swan, an aquatic bird, a stylized peacock, and a fantastic ornamental creature.

The carving retains a strong depth, accentuated by the natural shadows produced by the reliefs. The surface shows tool marks, ancient wear, and patina variations consistent with antique artisanal execution. The ensemble creates a very rhythmic composition where floral and animal forms gradually merge into an almost abstract continuous decor.

Like the other panels currently offered, this piece was part of a collection preserved for many years in the reserves of Claude de Marteau among various Asian objects and architectural fragments.

The Indian bas-reliefs found in the reserves of Claude de Marteau