17th-Century South Indian Temple Door with Frame

Original Manichitrathazhu Lock | Solid Sheesham Wood | Sacred Architectural Salvage from Kerala or Tamil Nadu

✦ A Portal to South India’s Sacred Past

This exceptional 17th-century temple or ancestral home door is a museum-grade relic of Southern India’s architectural and spiritual heritage. Handcrafted from dense Sheesham wood (Indian Rosewood) and fitted with an original Manichitrathazhu locking mechanism, it embodies the profound symbolism, technical ingenuity, and artistic mastery of Dravidian craftsmanship.

Once set into the threshold of a Nalukettu or temple sanctum, this door served both protective and ceremonial roles—marking the passage between the physical and spiritual world, between private life and divine presence.

✦ Architectural Significance & Locking Symbolism

At the heart of this piece is the rare, fully functional Manichitrathazhu lock—a traditional spring-loaded bolt system believed to guard against both physical intrusion and negative energy. The term, derived from Malayalam, means “lock of the jewel-adorned plate,” signalling prestige, sanctity, and honour.

Flanked by floral lattice motifs, vertical mullion carvings, and original forged iron studs, the door is framed in deeply carved jambs with lower fretwork—a testament to the high level of hand-tool artistry in South India during the 1600s.

Its untouched surface bears a rich, charcoal-toned patina, mellowed by time and tropical climate. Unlike later colonial adaptations, this piece retains its full Dravidian vocabulary—balanced symmetry, metaphysical protection, and utilitarian sanctity.

✦ Key Features

• Date: Circa 1600s

• Region: Kerala or Tamil Nadu, South India

• Material: Solid Sheesham wood (Indian Rosewood)

• Locking System: Fully original Manichitrathazhu spring-bolt mechanism

• Ironwork: Hand-forged, all original with crescent, floral and latch elements

• Patina: Natural aged hues in rich brown, grey, and rosewood black

• Condition: Structurally sound, with all original joinery and lockwork intact

✦ Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 192 cm

• Width: 102 cm (with frame)

• Depth: 18 cm

• Weight: Approx. 112 kg

✦ Cultural & Spiritual Context

Doors in ancient South Indian homes and temples were not mere passageways—they were ritual protectors. Commissioned only by families of high social standing or religious trustees, these doors symbolised thresholds between the seen and unseen, matter and spirit. Their complex locking systems weren’t just security measures—they were spiritual talismans.

The Manichitrathazhu lock, particularly rare in surviving condition, is an emblem of ritual honour and mechanical mastery. Variants of this design were depicted in Malayalam temple lore and royal epics—making this door not just a structure, but a story.

✦ Styling Tip

Install as a statement wall panel, functional entryway, or as a meditative centrepiece in spiritual spaces, boutique hotels, heritage villas, or architectural restorations. Set it against sandstone, lime-plastered walls, or even minimalist interiors to highlight its sculptural silhouette.

✦ Why This Piece Is Special

• One of few surviving doors with a fully intact Manichitrathazhu mechanism

• Rooted in Dravidian architectural philosophy and spiritual symbolism

• Carved entirely by hand, without restoration

• Museum-worthy and installation-ready, perfect for both collectors and designers

✦ Delivery & Installation

Due to its size and historic value, this piece will be delivered across the UK via white-glove transport. Local pickup or worldwide shipping available upon request. Please contact Regen Bespoke for more details.

Exclusively at Regen Bespoke
Preserving the sacred geometry, heritage mechanics, and ancestral devotion of India’s architectural soul.