Antique Hand-Carved Marble Fountain | Circa 18th Century | Floral Relief with Marigold Motifs | Royal Indian Garden Feature

A masterpiece of 18th-century Indian stone craftsmanship, this hand-carved marble fountain is not just a functional water feature but a living sculpture—an ode to sacred nature, royal opulence, and artisan mastery. Weighing over 670 kg, this monumental piece is likely to have once graced the inner courtyard of a palace or temple garden, where water symbolised purity, abundance, and divine presence.

Design & Composition

The fountain’s architectural form is a commanding trapezoidal incline, flowing into a delicately lobed semi-circular basin. The entire sloped surface is adorned with marigold flower reliefs, rendered in vertical rows, with repeating petal forms that suggest rhythmic movement—drawing the eye downward as water once traced these same contours.

This floral motif is not only aesthetically striking but deeply symbolic. The marigold, though native to the Americas, was introduced to the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century via Portuguese and Spanish maritime trade. By the 18th century, marigolds had become deeply embedded in South Asian temple rituals and royal ceremonies, symbolising auspiciousness, purity, and protection. Their inclusion here suggests a fusion of imported botanical beauty with indigenous spiritual identity.

The side panels of the fountain are etched with repeating scallop-shell motifs—possibly representing flowing water or protective design barriers in Hindu temple iconography. Above, the top edge features a classical lotus border, invoking divine presence and the cyclical nature of life and rebirth—key themes in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Craftsmanship & Context

This fountain was likely commissioned by royalty or elite nobility, perhaps as part of a zenana garden (women’s quarters) or private Haveli (mansion) space. The sheer mass and carving detail suggest the involvement of master artisans trained in the stone-carving traditions of Jaipur, Udaipur, or Agra—regions known for their monumental marble works and Mughal-inspired design language.

The marble’s surface has developed a soft patina over centuries of exposure, enhancing its organic texture and giving the entire structure a gentle warmth and historic depth.

Key Features:

• Date: Circa 1700s

• Origin: Likely Rajasthan, India

• Material: Solid hand-carved marble

• Design: Sloped fountain with marigold and floral relief, lotus border, scallop detailing

• Symbolism: Marigolds (auspiciousness), lotus (purity and divine order), water (fertility, cosmic flow)

• Condition: Excellent antique condition with visible natural patina and minor age-appropriate weathering

Dimensions & Weight:

• Width: 132 cm

• Height: 78 cm

• Depth: 132 cm

• Weight: Approx. 672 kg

Ideal For:

• Restoration of royal or Indo-Islamic heritage architecture

• Courtyard or garden installation in luxury villas, palaces, or boutique hotels

• Museum collections on South Asian decorative arts

• Spiritual sanctuaries, cultural spaces, or historic garden landscapes

Why This Fountain Matters

This is not merely a decorative artefact—it is a meditative experience in stone, capturing the sound, rhythm, and symbolism of flowing water across time. The artistry is devotional, the symmetry ceremonial. In its carvings live stories of cross-continental trade, sacred flower offerings, and water as sacred life force. To own this fountain is to preserve and inhabit a space once filled with royal whispers, ceremonial rites, and the soft echo of falling water.

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