Horse head. Kerala, India, ca. 1800.

Horse head. Kerala, India, ca. 1800.
Carved and polychrome wood.
Provenance: private collection, acquired in Bombay in 1978.
Condition: scratches, cracks and abrasions consistent with its age and ceremonial use. Mounted on a modern base.
Measurements: 62 x 25 x 18 cm.

Horse head from Kerala, in carved and polychrome wood. The piece presents a carving of great ornamental richness, with a stylized neck, carefully defined almond-shaped eyes and an elaborate decoration of beads, borders and incised motifs that run along the surface.

The horse occupies a prominent place in various Indian ritual and processional traditions, associated with power, nobility, protection and ceremonial prestige. In this specimen, the expressive intensity of the face and the decorative detail suggest a function linked to festive or devotional contexts, possibly as an element of a processional structure or ceremonial figure.

The polychromy in reddish, black, ochre and golden tones accentuates the scenic character of the piece, while the patina of use and the natural wear of the wood reinforce its material authenticity. Its presence, somewhere between sculptural and ritual, makes it a remarkable example of traditional South Indian art.