South Indian Bronze Rampant Yali

This cast and chiselled bronze mythical horned lion or yali which spews stylised, foliate flames from its snarling mouth with bared fangs sits upright on its hindlegs in a dynamic pose. Its eyes are bulging, its mane flowing, and its long tail has a large ‘S’ curl.

The yali stands on a rectangular platform, the sides of which have been engraved with lotus petal motifs.

The foliate form of the flame is mirrored by fine foliage motifs engraved over the yali’s body.

This form usually is attributed to the Vijayanagar period of around the 15th century

See a related object offered as lot 259, Sotheby’s London, ‘Arts of the Islamic World’, October 23, 2019.

The example here is in excellent condition.