Composite animals

"Magic polar bear" by Jack Nuviak and Leo Napayok is a card from the National Gallery of Canada (thank you, Rita!)

The magic panther has been gracing a ring-binder for years; it comes from the Pierpont Morgan Library.

I've always wondered about composite animals and this post gives me a chance to find out more.

"These composites, made up of disparate elements (animal, human, demon, and so on) are found in India from the early Mughal period onward, giving rise to the Mughal label. The painters of the Mughal composites are able to invent composite animals which may startle us at first, but on close inspection seem so entirely natural. This sheer naturalness of many of these paintings is even more striking than the individual elements. The playfulness inherent in these paintings may mask some deep intent, but at the same time this playfulness is enough to keep our interest and inspire our admiration." says a site dealing with Indian art.

Lots more here, including this uncomfortable way for economy passengers to travel -

"In the Hindu tradition such paintings possibly represent the belief in the internal unity of all beings and illustrate the doctrine of the transmigration of souls through successive reincarnations... an effort was obviously made to stress the mystical and ambiguous relationship of man to the natural world."

Arcimboldo's composite heads are fairly well known (was he inspired to experiment with composite figures after seeing Indian minatures?) -

Another type of composite animal is the hybrid, found in Egyptian and Near Eastern cultures -

Kate Clark's unnerving animal "portraits" can be seen here - one of many modern manifestations. Even more unnerving are the cadaverous amulets of Sarina Brewer, here for example.