chaofa (roof finial of a Buddhist temple or a palace)

wood, weathered and with traces of old lacquer and gilding

Thailand

19th century

height:

mounted

Provenance: Sotheby's New York tribal art auction, circa 1991, where acquired by Jack Daulton, the current owner

"[C]hofa [means] literally 'a bunch of sky' or 'sky tassel.' These finials are found on royal and religious buildings only, and may vary from region to region. They are thought to represent a hamsa or celestial goose that the god Brahma rides, or the garuda, the vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu".  National Museum, Bangkok.