Doors Gallery
The intricately carved doorway at the beginning of the Gallery is only a small indication of the magnificent doors, windows, and arches, with their own set of Gods, Goddesses, animals and apsaras to welcome you, painted archways, carved panels, doors in wood and Ivory, giant icons, majestic lions-it’s an awe-inspiring welcome to a world of artistic grandeur. The wood has always been a stimulating medium for the carver’s art. The doors, windows and ceilings at the Museum show how imaginatively the artists have created a world of memorable beauty.
There are intricate floral designs, symmetrical patterns, romantic themes of Radha and Krishna, the imposing sequence of Dasavatar (the ten incarnations of God Vishnu, the divine Protector among the Hindu Trinity) and plain dolls too.
On one ceiling the artists has carved a bewitching scene of Sheshashayi God Vishnu, the deity reclining on his ophidian couch against a backdrop multitude of criss-crossing snakes. More mundane articles of wood in the collection include brightly painted silos for storing grain, carved in the shape of elephants, a cupboard for dowry garments in the form of elephant with a rider. Apart from the main attraction of galloping horse there are leaping lions and charging tigers, graceful peacocks and mischievous monkeys.
All the wooden artefacts like pillar, brackets are brought from (Patan) the state of Gujarat makes the facade of typical Gujarati house. The wooden objects specially used in Gujarati house are grinding wheel, spinning wheel, standing lamp and vessel for churning butter and the dowry boxes are part of beautiful wooden collection of the museum.
The wooden Jai-Vijay (the guards of God Sri-Vishnu), the wheel of zodiac signs, the Yali (Dushtadamanak - The evil crusher) are the main attractions of rare wooden objects collection.
The wooden doors are from various unique houses and temples give glorious evidence of ancient Indian heritage. Unfortunately some of them have been destroyed in the flow of period. But some of the specimens which have survived are restored in the museum. The Raas-Leela door from Nathdwar, Rajasthan and temple door from Bhuvaneshwar, Orissa are really mentioned worthy.
The doors in the museum are made of either wood or Ivory. These doors have not only served the purpose of protection but they are definitely pieces of art from aesthetic point of view. The coloured wooden statues form Sawantwadi, Maharashtra depict the story of Sudama and Lord Sri-Krishna, Lord Ganesha riding on horse, statue of Lord Sri-Shiva Parvati are noteworthy.