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Antique Mythical Tiger Finial Bronze Palanquin Handle 18-19th Century
About the Item
Antique 18th 19th Century Palanquin Mythical Lion or Tiger Finial Bronze Handle.
Large heavy Indian Mythological bronze palanquin fitting cast via the lost wax technique, beautifully stylized and crafted in the form of protective mythological creature.
Palanquin finials were used to adorn the pole ends of the palanquin or palki.
A fine and massive example of a palanquin pole finial with good detail and fine patina.
India, circa: 18th/19thc.
The Palanquin handle measures: 9 inches long x 4 inches in depth x 6 inches height.
"Palanquin, or “palki”, are litter-type conveyances that have been in use in India for centuries. These finials would have adorned the pole ends that were used to support and carry the passenger compartment.
18th-19th century palanquin mythical beast finial handle in bronze, in a nice rich dark brown patina, unpolished (as found condition). Palanquins were used for transportation of people of wealth and power in India and the East. Palanquin finial/handles were decorative caps on the poles and were meant to protect the person being carried in the palanquin from demons and evil spirits.
These Palanquin handle were used to slide a wooden pole trough which carried a litter. The adornments of the carriage was meant to display the wealth and importance of their passengers. This is clearly visible in the details of these objects which are Masterly crafted.
The word “palanquin” is derived from the Sanskrit “palanki” meaning “bed” or “couch”. These lushly covered conveyances were intended to be carried by four to eight bearers known as “behara”, “dulia”, “boyee” or “behara” depending on the region. The interiors were furnished with specialized bedding materials, including pillows to provide the utmost comfort while traveling. Though the earliest mention of palanquin dates to the 3rd century BCE in the epic poem Ramayana, the height of usage occurred during the Mughal era from the 16th through 19th centuries. It wasn't until the advent of railways and roadways that could accommodate wheeled modes of transportation that the use of palanquin fell out of favor. Today, these bygone conveyances are used in ceremonies such as weddings. The ornamentation and complexity palanquin was directly related to social status. The finials also abided by this convention, but these adornments also reflected whether the owner was male or female. Flowers, particularly lotuses, and birds were the typical forms found on women’s palanquin, while those for men often featured fierce animals and creatures from Indian mythology and folklore. Similar palanquin finials can be found in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Heritage Transport Museum in Taoru, India has an entire exhibit devoted to palanquin with varied finials on display."
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection.
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