Hand-carved Indian relief of the god Krishna (Venugopala) – teak wood – - Wood (Teak) - Unbekannter indischer Meister / Traditionelles Kunsthandwerk - India - mid 20th century

For sale is an artfully, traditionally hand-carved wooden statue or architectural relief of the Hindu god Krishna. He is depicted in his classical iconographic pose as Venugopala (the divine flute-player). The figure shows the characteristic graceful Tribhanga pose (threefold body bend) on an integrated plinth.

The carving captivates with its detailed workmanship: from the traditional crown (Mukut) over the fine facial features to the embellishments of the garment (Dhoti). The flat back and the solid block form suggest that it originally was an architectural element of a home altar or temple niche from South India.

Special highlight / Provenance:
On the reverse side of the object is the original, historical label of the renowned “Galerie Krenzel – Internationales Kunsthandwerk” from Haan (Rhineland), Germany. Because of the still four-digit postal code (5657) on the sticker, the gallery distribution can be dated to before 1993. This confirms authentic provenance and the professional import of the object in the 20th century far from modern tourist souvenirs.
• Material: Solid Indian hardwood (most likely aged teakwood / Tectona grandis) with a beautiful, deep and mature patina.
• Age: mid-20th century.
• Condition: age-appropriate excellent vintage condition. The sculpture shows natural, authentic surface aging. No major damage, the wood is stable and solid. The original dealer label on the back is fully preserved.

Dimensions
Height: 20.5 cm
Width: 10 cm
Weight: 370 g