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Karnataka (South India)
copper alloy
A beautifully caparisoned copper Nandi standing on a rectangular plinth. The Nandi wears an engraved saddle blanket which is surmounted by a bowl-like structure which would have held an incense burner or an oil reservoir. He is bridled and decorated with necklaces around his neck.
Nandi or nandin means rejoicing, gladdening. It is the name of Shiva’s conveyance (vahana) the white bull. Nandi was probably a folk deity later incorporated into the Brahmanic lore. Nandi symbolises on the one hand moral and religious duty (dharma), and on the other, virility, fertility and strength. Apart from being Shiva’s vehicle, nandi in his form as nandikeshvara, depicted as a human with a bulls head, is believed to be one of the great masters of music and dancing. In southern India his recumbent image is placed either opposite the main sanctuary or in the hall leading to it, facing the linga.
Size (cms): 10.8(H) x 11.5(W) x 4.7(D)
Size (inches): 4.5(H) x 4.5(W) x 2(D)
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Andhra Pradesh (South India)
Framed Leather Shadow Puppet
In Andhra Pradesh the Tholu Bomalatta tradition of travelling shadow puppet theatre typically enacts the voluminous epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Made from goat, cow or buffalo skin, the Andhra Pradesh puppets are sometimes more than five feet high. They are translucent, stained in vegetable dyes and are extremely stylised in facial garment rendering. Viewed as shadows from behind a lamp-lit cloth screen, the puppets are manipulated with the help of bamboo sticks at certain points, usually at the joints on the shoulders, knees, elbows and head. The highly animated performance, along with the drum beat and loud narration of stories is highly effective in mesmerising the spectators transporting them into another world.
Size (cms): 81.3(H) x 160(W)
Size (inches): 32(H) x 63(W)
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Karnataka (South India)
Framed Leather Shadow Puppet
The art of puppetry, called Togalugombayeta in Karnataka, involves acting out well known epic episodes using puppets made of flat leather pieces operated by a stick. The perforated leather is illuminated from behind, making this a form of shadow theatre. It is thought that the puppets were invented to avoid having gods and goddesses – who feature prominently in Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata – depicted by humans.
Size(cms): 57 (H) x 57 (L)
Size(inches): 24.5 (H) x 24.5 (L)
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Karnataka (South India)
Wood, polychromed
A rare ash box on wheels with a carved figure of a nandi and a lingam on top. It was used to store Vibhuti. Also referred to as Bhasma (holy ash), Vibhuti is of great significance in Hinduism and especially in Shaivism where it is thought to symbolise the mystic power of Lord Shiva.
Size(cms): 16 (H) x 21.5 (W) x 19 (D)
Size(inches): 6.2 (H) x 8.5 (W) x 7.5 (D)
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Tamil Nadu (South India)
Wood
A finely carved chariot panel depicting a fully caparisoned standing Vyali. The rearing lion is open mouthed exposing large teeth, bulging eyes and a prominent ‘sunburst’ mane. The muscular body and the torso is adorned with carved tassels. ‘Yali’ or ‘Vyala’ denotes a mythical lion faced animal that appears on carved friezes on temple walls. They are fierce, leonine beasts with curvaceous bodies and enlarged heads surrounded by flame-like manes. They rear up on hind legs, the forelegs held out with clenched claws as if to pounce. Sometimes they are shown standing on human heads presumably of the demons that they have vanquished. In southern Indian sculpture from the 16th century onwards figures of rearing, almost three dimensional vyalis bearing heads either of horned lions or elephants and feline bodies guard the entrances of temples and line the approaches leading to sanctuaries.
Size (cms): 41.5 (H) x 20 (W) x 10 (D)
Size (inches): 16.3 (H) x 7.9 (W) x 4 (D)
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Karnataka
Wood
‘Yali’ or ‘Vyala’ denotes a mythical lion faced animal that appears on carved friezes on temple walls. They are fierce, leonine beasts with curvaceous bodies and enlarged heads surrounded by flame-like manes. They rear up on hind legs, the forelegs held out with clenched claws as if to pounce. Sometimes they are shown standing on human heads presumably of the demons that they have vanquished. In southern Indian sculpture from the 16th century onwards figures of rearing, almost three dimensional vyalis bearing heads either of horned lions or elephants and feline bodies guard the entrances of temples and line the approaches leading to sanctuaries.
Size (cms): 65(H) x 29(W) x 61(D)
Size (inches): 25.5(H) x 11.5(W) x 24(D)
