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Nothing like a pair of stylised lions to add to your home decor. Unusual as they are, these sculptures depict the form of the leonine guard as could be found in ancient temples in the farther Northern reaches of the subcontinent. Their function is to greet visitors as they flank the entrance to the altar of a deity; alternatively, they could be positioned on either side of the deity within.These lions are a fine example of devotional Indian handiwork. Fashioned from brass, their bodies are inlaid with richly coloured bits of resin indicative of regal adornment. Their faces are carved most delicately, with the kind of precision and attention to detail possible only for the finest of sculptors. A composure of wrath - mouths open, tongues lashing out - characterises the faces of the lions.
It is the wrathful expression that gives away the style of temple architecture these lions belong to. In addition to the same, there are the tiny protrusions on the tops of their heads, the impressions of wings on their brows and shoulders, and the serrations on their superbly carved ears. Zoom in on the realistic mane spreading in thick curls over their leonine shoulders. Finally, the lifelike flourish of their tails completes the sculpture.
