Vintage Lakshmi Wooden Panel | Kerala | Goddess Lakshmi Wood Carving

Curator: The Blue Trunk Artist: Unknown Medium: Wood Size: 14 w x 2 d x 32 h in / 35.5 w x 5 d x 81.2 h cm Weight: 13 kgs This sizable vintage wooden panel from 20th-century Kerala depicts Goddess Lakshmi standing gracefully upon a fully blossomed lotus. Her serene expression and ornate crown give the figure a composed and devotional presence characteristic of traditional Indian representations of the goddess. Lakshmi is shown with four arms, with two of her hands holding lotus flowers. The lotus is closely associated with Lakshmi and carries traditional meanings of purity, beauty and auspiciousness in Hindu iconography. The substantial scale of the panel and its carved wooden form reflect Kerala's long tradition of working with wood for religious, architectural and decorative objects. The combination of the standing Lakshmi, lotus imagery and traditional carving makes this an interesting example of South Indian devotional woodwork. Care instructions: Wipe the piece with a soft, dry cloth. Do not expose it to direct sunlight, dampness, heat or cold. The Blue Trunk was born out of the passion to travel, and collect pieces that symbolise the rich cultural traditions and history of places travelled to. They scour towns and villages, big and small, across India’s vast landscape, to bring forth an exquisite curation of traditional and authentic products that are part of the lives they discover. Their penchant for hand crafted artifacts, both vintage and new, is what makes their collection such a fine mix.