A large silver palanquin pole finial with Makara head, South India, circa 1800, the mythical creature depicted with open mouth bearing fangs, raised trunk and bulging eyes, 17cm high x 10.7cm diam x 22.6cm Provenance: The Geoffrey and Fay Elliot collection. Simon Ray Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 2004 Note: The makara is a mythical aquatic creature which combines the body of a crocodile with the head of a lion and trunk of an elephant. He is the vehivle of Varuna, god of the waters heaven and earth and the emblem of Yama, the god of love.Split to edge of metal just above eyebrow, split to edge of left side of mouth at corner; split to metal to right cheek area, small holes