Southeast Asia, Thailand, ca. late 19th century CE. Expertly carved and elaborately embellished with gold gilding, red pigment, and colorful cut mirror tessarae, a beautiful Kinnara goddess figure, the beloved celestial musician and deity of love, manifesting as a hybrid woman/bird being with a human torso, limbs, a head bedecked with an ornate flame finialed headdress, flame ears, and elaborate avian wings and feathers. She also holds a book in her hands, perhaps a reference to sacred scripture. Wood block base. Size: 4.75" W x 15.5" H (12.1 cm x 39.4 cm)

In Southeast Asia, kinnara are mythological beings believed to have descended from the Himalayas in order to watch over humankind during turbulent times. They are among the numerous figures that inhabit the legendary mythical Himavanta forest. Kinnaris have the head, torso, and limbs of a woman and the wings, tail, and feet of a swan. They are appreciated for their song, dance, and poetry and serve as a quintessential symbols of beauty, elegance, and solemn accomplishments.

Provenance: Ex-Private Boulder, CO collection acquired at Indochine Gallery

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#117823

Flame finial reattached. Tiny loss to tip of finial. Repairs to upper wings. Surface wear with minor losses to tips of tailfeathers, pigment loss as shown.