Pair of Chettinad Architectural Consoles – Yalis and Riders, 19th Century

This imposing pair of carved architectural consoles from Chettinad, in Tamil Nadu, features a spectacular decoration of Yalis and riders deeply incised into a hard, very dense exotic wood. 19th century or earlier.

They have been secured to a steel support but can be easily disassembled and reinstalled in an interior.

• Dimensions on steel support: H 128 cm x W 30 cm x D 30 cm
• Consoles alone: H 120 cm x W 11 cm x D 34 cm
• Each weighs 30 kg with its base.
• Sold as an inseparable pair, with certificate of provenance.

Pair of Chettinad Architectural Consoles – Yalis and Riders, 19th Century

These consoles most likely adorned the entrance of a Chettinad residence, a prosperous region of Tamil Nadu renowned for the vast estates built by merchant communities between the 18th and early 19th centuries. In traditional Chettinad architecture, the main door held a crucial place, marking the transition between public and private spheres. Entrances generally remained open during the day to encourage beneficial circulation and symbolically welcome Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity. When merchants had to part with their homes in the 1960s and 1970s, a large part of their architectural furnishings was sold.

This pair of carved wooden architectural consoles features a particularly elaborate vertical composition blending riders, mythological creatures, elephants, lions, and deeply carved vegetal motifs. Unlike less prestigious or later pieces, they are carved in the round. They were intended to enrich a monumental entrance but could also be placed in a temple, a processional chariot, or a religious architectural ensemble.

The superimposed scenes depict several riders whose dimensions gradually decrease towards the base. The rearing horses and hybrid creatures themselves rest on human or animal figures in motion, creating a dynamic composition characteristic of Dravidian ornamentation. Behind some figures appear individuals holding a staff, reinforcing the narrative and processional dimension of the ensemble.

The fantastic creatures visible in the sculpture belong to the repertoire of Yalis — also known as Vyalas — mythological figures omnipresent in South Indian architecture. Associated with the protection of sacred and domestic spaces, the Yali is a composite creature typically blending attributes of the lion, elephant, and serpent. In Tamil and Vaishnavite tradition, these hybrid beings were frequently carved on pillars, consoles, and doorframes to ward off harmful influences and symbolically protect the premises.

The extremely deep carving of the reliefs accentuates the play of shadow and gives the ensemble a remarkable sculptural presence. Despite the density of the composition, the figures retain a sense of movement and relative lightness, reminiscent of some grand equestrian sculptures in the sacred architecture of Tamil Nadu. The surface shows slight wear, small old cracks, and tool marks consistent with a hand-executed sculpture intended for architectural use. Very minor losses are rarely observed — a horse’s leg, a small tusk, a lion’s flank — too small and diffused within the mass to be truly visible.

Related consoles are reproduced in George Michell’s work, Living Wood: Sculptural Traditions of Southern India, Bombay, 1992, nos. 51-54.

Bibliography: Pratapaditya Pal, The Sensuous Immortals, A Selection From Pan-Asian Collection, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1977, p. 104.

This pair was installed in the main living room of Claude de Marteau, alongside Asian sculptures and architectural fragments.