This Teakwood pediment carving came from a Northern Thai house. Pediment carvings were part of the traditional architecture system and were found under overhanging roof gables. We know it was a residential roof (and not a temple's) because of the shallow angle. Temple roofs are much steeper and usually temple exteriors were painted, so some pigment would usually remain, particularly towards the top.
Thai houses were made from solid teak --walls, roofs, floors; everything. They were always raised on stilts to remain above seasonal flooding, snakes and other forest creatures. The area below the house was used for animals and storage. The Thai architectural wall system (including pediments) always employed heavy beams and thin floating panels. Visually these wall panels are very attractive and richly textured on account of exposure to moisture. Teak is very resistant to moisture and insects, so the lifespan of teak exterior parts can be over 150 years.
The antique pediment...
Category
Early 20th Century Thai Decorative Art