{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O71021"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71021/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV2419/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV2419/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV2419","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O71021/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O71021","accessionNumber":"IS.146-1986","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The top of this ivory figure has a tenon (a projecting piece). This suggests that it originally acted as some sort of support, possibly as one of a group of throne legs.  The bulging eyes, flame-like mane, fangs and distinctive rearing pose are all typical of interpretations of the <i>yali</i> (or vyala) at that time. The <i>yali</i> was a mythical beast with a lion-like head. It sometimes also had an elephant's trunk and tusks, and leaves coming from its mouth.  \r\nThis small figure is modelled on the sculptural <i>yali</i> pillars that featured in South Indian temple architecture.  Pillars carved with rearing animals of this type first appeared in the architecture of the Vijayanagara empire. They feature in temple complexes commissioned under the Tuluva dynasty in the 16th century, often in <i> mandapas</i> (a porch or pillared hall).  <i>Mandapas</i> at the Virupaksha shrine, Hampi (1510), the Chintala Venkataramana temple, Tadpatri (16th century) and the Vidyashankara temple, Sringeri (16th century), all have pillars carved as rearing <i>yali</i>. Such columns became standard features in the extensive <i>mandapas</i> and monumental processional corridors erected by the Nayak governors of Gingee, Madurai and Tanjore. The governors were installed by the Tuluva dynasty. They proclaimed sovereignty from their overlords as the Vijayanagara empire disintegrated in 1565. It is very likely that this <i>yali</i> figure was made under Nayak patronage in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, carvers and sculptors made much use of the <i>yali</i> in their work. It was also during this period that places such as Madurai, Mysore and Tiruchirapalli became centres of ivory carving.","physicalDescription":"<font -i>Yali</font -i> figure of carved solid ivory.  Lion-like creature with bulging eyes, flame-like mane, fangs, and in a rearing position.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Solid ivory, carved","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AV2419"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES370068"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"south"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"17th century-18th century","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"without perspex mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with perspex mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"A <font -i>yali</font -i> or <font -i>vyala</font -i> is a lion-like mythical beast, sometimes with the trunk of an elephant.  This form is often used as an architectural component  in South Indian temples.  This one was originally part of a throne.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Throne component, a <font -i>yali</font -i> figure of carved solid ivory, South India, 17th or 18th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Luxury goods from India : the art of the Indian cabinet maker / Amin Jaffer. London: V&A Publications, 2002 Number: 1851773819","id":"AUTH332756"},"details":"p.67, ill.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"yali","id":"x35349"},{"text":"vyala","id":"x35350"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.146-1986"],"accessionNumberNum":"146","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1986,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-08-03","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-28","availableToBook":false}}