An Elaborately Carved Early 20thC Wooden Corinthian Column Capital

Origin: Possibly Indian
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900-1920
Height: 14.5 inches
Width: 18 inches (at maximum)
Depth: 17 inches (at maximum)

The copiously carved shaft having profuse acanthus leaf decoration, the base with four scrolling foliate corner supports surrounding further interlocking central foliate designs.

The overall patination and colour to the soft wood (which is either pine, or Indian Gumar or Aini) is very appealing and most of the carving remains in tact and softly worn. There is one structural crack present to the top of the pediment running down through the shaft and some other small areas of loss with bore holes to some corners.

A Corinthian capital in architectural terms is the top part of a column characterised by large acanthus leaves and fluted. If indeed of Indian origin, this piece would be termed a Indo-Corinthian capital, many of which can be found in the northwestern Indian subcontinent, and usually combine Hellenistic and Indian elements constituting important elements of Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara. Indo-Corinthian capitals also incorporated figures of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, usually as central figures surrounded, and often in the shade, of the luxurious foliage of Corinthian designs.

This evocative segment of architecture could now be used creatively, for example turned 360 and used as a jardinière or plant stand, though as a work of art, it can surely rest assured of admiring glances however or wherever it resides.