Monumental Temple-Style Carved Brackets with Horse Riders

These tall wooden panels are composed as vertical narrative brackets, structured in multiple stacked registers, each densely filled with human and animal forms. The defining presence lies in this layered progression, where movement is carried downward through successive scenes.

At the uppermost level, mounted riders on rearing horses establish a strong diagonal thrust, their bodies aligned with the lifted forelegs, creating a sense of controlled motion. Beneath them, smaller attendant figures appear in varied gestures, some positioned as if supporting or interacting with the tier above, adding a sense of continuity across levels.

Further down, the composition introduces additional animals, including elephants with raised trunks and other quadrupeds, interwoven with human figures. These are arranged in compact groupings, each cluster forming a self-contained visual unit while remaining connected to the overall vertical flow.

The carving is highly detailed and deeply cut, allowing figures to project outward with clarity. Ornament, musculature, and drapery are rendered with precision, while the monochrome finish emphasises form over colour.

In wood, the surface carries a muted, aged tonality. Light moves across protruding forms and settles into recesses, revealing the density of the carving and allowing the panels to hold space with a strong architectural presence.