Wooden Horse - 12-Inch Hand-Painted Rajasthani Figure

Why this one

740 g of solid mango wood. The saddle blanket is where the painting concentrates: a floral panel over the flank, a bridle picked out along the head, and fine line work down the legs. It is laid on freehand, so the flowers differ from horse to horse even inside one colour. Carved in the round, not pressed - the mane and the tail stand away from the body.

Twelve inch or ten inch?

We make this horse in two sizes. The twelve-inch is the one that holds a console or a mantel on its own; the ten-inch is lighter and cheaper and works better in a pair, on a bookshelf, or beside something larger. Both come in the same six colours, so a twelve and a ten in the same colour make a natural mother-and-foal grouping - which is how most people who buy two end up arranging them.

Which colour

• Red - the traditional festival colour
• Orange - marigold, the brightest of the six
• Purple - deep violet with contrast floral work
• Blue - mid blue, the easiest in a modern room
• Gray - the most neutral, and the one that suits a room with no other Indian decor
• Black - black ground with the floral saddle in full contrast

Where it goes

A console, a mantel, an entryway table, a bookshelf, or a child's room. It also works on a dining table as an alternative to flowers, since it does not block sightlines the way a tall centerpiece does. Two facing each other on a sideboard is the arrangement that reads most deliberately.

Gifting

Housewarming, griha pravesh, a new business - the horse carries associations of forward movement and good fortune, which is why it is a common gift at a beginning. Also a straightforward gift for a child, and a Rajasthani souvenir for anyone who has travelled there.

Care

Wipe with a soft dry cloth, working into the carved detail with a soft brush. Keep water and cleaning sprays off the painted surface. Painted mango wood does not like standing damp or direct all-day sun.