India Kirtimukha Lion Brass Wall Hanging Vintage

Vintage heavy brass Kirtimukha wall hanging from India. Weighs about 1.6 pounds. See photos for measurements. A Kirtimukha wall hanging or door knocker is said to ward off evil. When hung over or on a door Kirtimukha acts as a guardian of the threshold. Kirtimukha or the "face of glory" is a ravenous demon lion from Hindu legend and is also a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva. Kirtimukha can be found in architecture and art across South and South-East Asia, most commonly at the apex of arches in Hindu or Buddhist architecture, and is also a significant character in Buddhist and Jain art. There seems to be some debate over his exact origins, as Kirtimukha appears in buddhist art from the 3rd century CE, long before the Hindu legend.