Antique Palace or Temple Guardian Figure, Thailand (T431)

Description

This finely carved wooden figure is a theppanom—a celestial guardian or divine attendant in the Thai Buddhist tradition who protects sacred spaces and welcomes the faithful. In Thai belief, the  theppanon appeared on earth when the Buddha reached enlightenment. These figures were traditionally placed at entrances of Thai Buddhist temples or flanked entrances of royal palace complexes for decorative and ceremonial purposes, to secure sacred thresholds and to honor and guard the spaces within. As Buddhist spiritual protectors, they were intermediaries between the divine and human realms, held a lotus in their hands (now missing here) and may also have been made as a single figure. As royal palace attendant protectors, they have their hands up in anjali mudra  (wai in Thailand) expressing their respect and reverence for what they are guarding. They have long been used in Thai iconography.

An intricate carving, the figure likely is a home or temple guardian with hands one above the other holding a sacred Buddhist lotus (now missing), the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment, purity and awakening. He wears traditional attire of stylized armor-like garments with intricate detailing and a tall, pointed chada (headdress) signifying his celestial and royal status. The layered garments, delicate hands and traces of original gilding reflect the Rattanakosin artistic style of the period, blending elegance with sacred symbolism.

It is in excellent condition with most remnants of the original  polychrome paint and gilding remaining. The worn surface and softened paint edges indicate age and traditional craftsmanship, possibly used in a spiritual context. Mounted on a modern black stand.