Nepalese Vishnu Pendant

Gilded Vishnu & Garuda Pendant set with Pearls & Semi-Precious Stones

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

18th-19th century

height: 9.5cm, width: 5.8cm, weight: 39g

This pendant, meant either for the ear or perhaps the neck and possibly meant to decorate a statue if not an actual person is of thickly gilded (gold-plated) copper inset with turquoise, coral and rubies or spinels.

It shows Vishnu seated on his vahana Garuda. Vishnu’s body is of shaped and carved turquoise pieces. Garuda’s body has been formed from coral.

Suspended from the body of the ornament are fifteen gilded tassels (two are missing) each of which has been threaded with a small pearl.

It is a particularly fine example of Newar metalwork from the Kathmandu Valley. A related earring is on display in the British Museum (see below). Another is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (see Clarke, 2004, p. 115). Interestingly, such pendants sometimes are thought to be earrings but rarely if ever do they turn up in pairs.

The metalwork includes pearled filigree wire which is a Newari trademark.

The piece is in fine condition. There are only minor losses to the stone.

References

Casey Singer, J., Gold Jewelry from Tibet and Nepal, Thames & Hudson, 1996.

Clarke, J., Jewellery of Tibet and the Himalayas, V&A Publications, 2004.

Provenance:

UK art market

Inventory no.: 3315

SOLD

here

The British Museum example.