Door guardian (dwarapala)

Southeast Asian Collection

Accession Nr.: 9788
Type: sculpture; stone carving
Date of production:
10 − 13th century
Place of production:
Materials/Techniques: sandstone, carved
Dimensions: height: 49 cm
width: 28 cm
In front of temples or gates, two bulging-eyed figures of demons (rakshasa) holding a mace were usually placed to help ward off evil forces.

Under his headband, the scary-faced figure wears a long, meticulously carved head of hair curled into coils, skull-shaped earrings, a moustache and an angry eyebrow, which shows traces of the original (black) painting.