Indian Door Lintel with Central Mandala of Birds and Yali Figures

Start at the center and try not to get lost.

This door lintel with a central mandala of birds and yali figures is carved teak, from the border of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa in India, early 19th century. A yali is the lion-like mythical beast of South Indian temple art, often placed at entrances as a guardian, which made a doorway a natural home for one. A large many-petaled roundel anchors the panel, flanked by sweeping leaf scrolls filled with small figures, with half roundels at each end. Rows of leaf discs run along top and bottom. Forty-eight inches wide and thirteen and a quarter high.

Blank wood was evidently taken as a personal insult.