Polychrome Wood Breast Plate from Theyyam Festival, Kerala, India

A rare ritual breast plate - Theyyam Festival, Kerala, South…
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A rare ritual breast plate - Theyyam Festival, Kerala, South India, early 20th century, crafted from a single piece of wood, decorated in polychrome paint. 55 cm high, 51 cm wide, 18.5 cm deep - excluding stand. 66.5 cm high, 51 cm wide, 18.5 cm deep - including stand. Provenance: The Estate Collection of Paul Rutten Asiatic & tribal Art, Amsterdam. This breast & torso plate was originally acquired by Paul Rutten in India. Theyyam Festival. The breast & torso plate was worn exclusively by men during the annual Theyyum festival in Kerala. The breast plate made the dancer into Bhadrakali, a popular form of the goddess Devi worshipped in Kerala, where she is seen as the auspicious and fortunate form of Kali, and is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of Rudra.

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  • Polychrome - Made or finished in many colours. For furniture, it is used to indicated a painted finish.

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