A CARVED SANDALWOOD WALKING CANE WITH VYALA HEAD Mysore, Karnataka, South India, 19th century Of typical tapering cylindrical shape, rising to a curved and outward-projecting pommel carved in the round in the shape of a Hindu mythical lion-like creature known as vyala (or yali), with wide-open fangs, beak-like nose, bulging bone-inlaid eyes, and a lush leonine mane on the forehead and neck, the decoration on the main shaft arranged in overlapping horizontal registers in-filled with Indian wild animals against dense vegetation interspersed amidst fretwork, chevron and beaded bands, and floral meanders, 92.5cm long.

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