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Maharashtra
Wood
A beautiful votive doll with its hands pressed in anjali mudra, a gesture of greeting and prayer. These small figures carved in wood, usually representing worshipping women, but also female water carriers, mothers, or pregnant women are simple in design, yet it is this implied simplicity that makes these figures attractive. They take various forms, triangular, rectangular, round or stepped. Often only the front of the sculptures are carved whereas the rears maybe left untreated. Often statuettes miss a nose, ears or arms. Many of the faces have been worn down from use, to a point where they reveal no detail.
These small figures were used for devotional purposes within the home, placed there as votive offerings to the Goddess Maulli/Mariai. Mauli is a powerful folk deity that protects against illness such as smallpox and cholera. But at the same time, neglecting her inflicts her wrath. She also takes the role of a fertility goddess to whom childless women seek respite. Figures of the Goddess are worshipped with turmeric, some red kunkum and oil which is daubed on her forehead.
Size (cms): 17.5(H) x 9(W) x 9(D)
Size (inches): 7(H) x 3.5(W) x 3.5(D)
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Maharashtra
Wood
A beautiful votive doll with its hands pressed in anjali mudra, a gesture of greeting and prayer. These small figures carved in wood, usually representing worshipping women, but also female water carriers, mothers, or pregnant women are simple in design, yet it is this implied simplicity that makes these figures attractive. They take various forms, triangular, rectangular, round or stepped. Often only the front of the sculptures are carved whereas the rears maybe left untreated. Often statuettes miss a nose, ears or arms. Many of the faces have been worn down from use, to a point where they reveal no detail.
These small figures were used for devotional purposes within the home, placed there as votive offerings to the Goddess Maulli/Mariai. Mauli is a powerful folk deity that protects against illness such as smallpox and cholera. But at the same time, neglecting her inflicts her wrath. She also takes the role of a fertility goddess to whom childless women seek respite. Figures of the Goddess are worshipped with turmeric, some red kunkum and oil which is daubed on her forehead.
Size (cms): 18.5(H) x 9(W) x 9(D)
Size (inches): 7.5(H) x 3.5(W) x 3.5(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)
