Cradle Railing

Konkan Region

Wood with polychroming

A rare cradle railing with five carved wooden fertility votive dolls, alternating with flower head sprays and turned wooden spindles.

Votive dolls, integral to folk rituals, served as devotional offerings within home shrines to the Goddess Mauli or Mariyai. Revered as a fertility deity, Mauli holds a central role in the spiritual lives of many, particularly childless women seeking her blessings. Rituals often involve adorning her image with turmeric, red kumkum, and oil, emphasising her sacredness. Known for her protective powers against devastating illnesses like smallpox and cholera, the Goddess also demands consistent devotion, as neglect is believed to provoke her anger. These offerings typically take the form of simple wooden carvings depicting women in worship, pregnant figures, mothers, or water carriers—symbolising the life and sustenance she governs.

Size (cms): 31(H) x 102(W) x 12(D)
Size (inches): 12(H) x 40(W) x 4.5(D)