Yali Brackets (Pair)

Brackets are architectural elements projected from a wall, usually to carry weight or to strengthen an angle. Intricately carved and painted, brackets were often found in Indian palaces and temples.
This exquisite pair of brackets feature Yali - a mythical creature seen in many Hindu temples, often sculpted onto pillars. It is portrayed in different ways, as part lion, part elephant, part horse, or similar shapes. It is sometimes described as part lion and part griffin, with bird-like features. The Yali is a commonly found motif in Indian art, used mostly in South Indian sculptures.
Intricately carved in teakwood, these brackets are from the 'Gujarat' school, where chhajjas (a sunshade or eave laid on cantilever brackets fixed into and projecting from the walls) and corbel brackets were richly carved. Gujarat is particularly known for its long tradition of woodcarving, including entirely carved wooden havelis. These were not just for status, but also structural as an earthquake resistant system. Brackets like these would be used for chajjas on the outside of buildings but also in the inner courtyards to protect pillars.
Standing at the feet of the Yali are female dwarapalikas (door guardians), with their arms in front of the waist, and one leg crossing the other. The brackets will be shipped with a finished base measuring an additional 3 inches in height.