Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Works of Art
Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Works of Art
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF H. PETER STERN
A SANDSTONE FIGURE OF A VYALA CENTRAL, INDIA, CIRCA 12TH CENTURY
Auction Closed
September 22, 07:46 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF H. PETER STERN
A SANDSTONE FIGURE OF A VYALA CENTRAL
INDIA, CIRCA 12TH CENTURY
Height 24 in. (62 cm)
the mythical beast with the body of a lion and a chimeric head, rearing up with a powerfully curved chest, fierce eyes and bared teeth, wearing a beaded collar around his neck, the tail curled between his legs with the end emitting flames
Spink & Son, Ltd, 1981
These figures are the most common feature on Indian temple architecture and usually act as a bracket set into recesses on the exterior walls, supporting an overhanging cornice. The composite figure of lion and mythical head is a symbol of both royalty and the force of nature, and their placement within temple architecture often serves as an element of protection. Compare the present sculpture to a vyala from V. Desai and D. Mason, Gods, Guardians, and Lovers: Temple Sculptures from North India A.D. 700-1200, New York, 1993, cat. 15.