Our relief in wood shows a warrior spearing lion. The work comes from the exterior decoration of a Hindu temple, which explains the beautiful surface patina caused by wind and sand over time.

Scholars variously place the sculpture in South India or Gujarat (renowned for wood carving) or Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has a tradition of carving numerous examples of Hindu imagery in wood while Gujarat is renowned for its tradition of wood carving largely associated with Jain imagery. Tamil Nadu was more actively Hindu from the 15th century and has a popular tradition of the horse and rider, specifically the deity Aiyannar, which is very popular amongst the local village population as a protective deity. Aiyannar is a benign protective deity who rides in the forests to secure the village against outsiders.

The figure is probably from protective wooden frieze which may have been placed in the dance hall on the upper level of the walls of a temple. The image is one of a warrior spearing a lion. This is generally thought to symbolise the control of the senses and appears frequently on the outer walls of Hindu temples.

The figure of an equestrian warrior spearing a beast is universal in art, found in antiquity and Asian art and of course in Christian images of George and the Dragon. The composition invites the skills of artistry and craftsmanship while the meaning may derive from mythology.