Woman and Child Bracket

Richly carved architectural bracket in the form of a beautiful woman and child from Gujarat. Behind her is carved lush vegetation, and she stands with one foot resting on the other, giving the piece a wonderful lightness and sense of movement. This bracket is from the 'Gujarat school' where chhajjas (a sunshade or eave laid on cantilever brackets fixed into and projecting from the walls) and corbel brackets were richly carved. Such brackets were not just for status, but also served a structural purpose as an earthquake resistant system.
Gujarat is particularly known for its long tradition of woodcarving, including entirely carved wooden havelis or houses.