Karnataka

Brass alloy

An ornamental palanquin pole finial in the sculptural form of a vyali with a pointed nose, wavy brows culminating in small protruding ears and ovular eyes. The vyali is open-mouthed, exposing large teeth and a small extended tongue. A collar in the form of a festooned necklace with a central medallion hangs on his scaly torso, in between the vyali’s outstretched paws.

Palanquins or sedan chairs were used throughout India, the larger ones to transport people and the smaller ones for religious deities to be taken around the temple complex on festival days. The present example is from the latter category. It was fitted to the wooden forward pole of the palanquin; the rear pole was usually covered with a simple metal cover or cylinder.