A LARGE AND HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE WOOD RELIEF OF A DANCING FEMALE DEMON, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA, 17TH CENTURYRichly and deeply carved in openwork, her hands bent at the waist, both feet facing right, dressed in elaborate and finely decorated dhoti, richly embellished with hoops, beaded jewelry framing her prominent chest, and floral earrings, the face with a fierce expression, round eyes below arched eyebrows, open mouth revealing sharp fangs, surmounted by an ornate headdress, a scarf terminating with tassels around her shoulders.Provenance: A Dutch private collection. A noted Hungarian private collection, acquired from the above.Condition:mensurate with age. Extensive wear, expected age cracks, chips, losses, scratches, splits, warping, signs of weathering, old repairs, encrustations, small burnt marks to the side, but overall displaying extraordinarily well.Weight: 13.9 kgDimensions: Size 104.5 x 39.5 cmWooden architecture is especially prevalent in Kerala, and ancient wooden prototypes are considered the forerunners of stone temple architecture. However, due to the perishable nature of the material and the tropical climate, only few early examples have survived.Wrathful demons tamed and converted to the prevailing faith are a regular feature of temple entrances. Their apparent demonic nature, witnessed by their wild countenance – wide flaring eyes, projecting fangs and coarse features – make them most suitable for their role as guardians of the temple threshold.Literatureparison:Compare a related wood figure of a Dvarapala, 119 cm high, attributed to Kerala and dated 17th to 18th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IS.22-1980.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2016, lot 1317Price: USD 27,500 or approx.EUR 31,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A carved wood standing demon, South India, Kerala, ca. 17th CenturyExpert remark:pare the detailed carving work, and ornate design. Note the smaller size (87 cm).