A small Indian ivory 'Yali' carving, South India, 17-18th century, the head with tenon suggesting once forming a leg support, with bulging eyes, flame-like mane, fangs and distinctive rearing pose typical of interpretations of the yali (or vyala), with traces of old paint, 12.5cm high Provenance: From a Private English Collection Compare with a similar example in Victoria and Albert Museum, museum number IS.146-1986. They discuss the likely origins of the piece as: 'This small figure is modelled on the sculptural yali pillars that featured in South Indian temple architecture. Pillars carved with rearing animals of this type first appeared in the architecture of the Vijayanagara empire 1336-1646 . They feature in temple complexes commissioned under the Tuluva dynasty in the 16th century, often in mandapas (a porch or pillared hall). It is very likely that this yali figure was made under Nayak patronage in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, carvers and sculptors made much use of the yali in their work. It was also during this period that places such as Madurai, Mysore and Tiruchirapalli became centres of ivory carving.'
A small Indian ivory 'Yali' carving, South India, 17-18th century, the head with tenon suggesting once forming a leg support, with bulging eyes, flame-like mane, fangs and distinctive rearing pose typical of interpretations of the yali (or vyala), with traces of old paint, 12.5cm high Provenance: From a Private English Collection Compare with a similar example in Victoria and Albert Museum, museum number IS.146-1986. They discuss the likely origins of the piece as: 'This small figure is modelled on the sculptural yali pillars that featured in South Indian temple architecture. Pillars carved with rearing animals of this type first appeared in the architecture of the Vijayanagara empire 1336-1646 . They feature in temple complexes commissioned under the Tuluva dynasty in the 16th century, often in mandapas (a porch or pillared hall). It is very likely that this yali figure was made under Nayak patronage in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, carvers and sculptors made much use of the yali in their work. It was also during this period that places such as Madurai, Mysore and Tiruchirapalli became centres of ivory carving.'
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
