Indian Silver Pierced Crown, possibly for a Deity (Mukut)

This silver panel to be attached to the head and worn on the forehead, probably was intended to decorate a Hindu deity, but also might have been worn by a groom on his wedding day.

It is of a single sheet of silver that has been pierced and chased with scrolling floral motifs with peacocks on either side of a fan that crests the panel.

Crowns were worn by Hindu grooms at their weddings in keeping with the idea common across Asia that one is ‘royal’ for the day, on one’s wedding day.

The panel is large and is obviously intended for a man, or for a large image. Indeed, such panels also were used to decorate statues of Krishna and other deities during temple festivities and processions.

The panel has an eyelet on each side to allow it to be attached to a headdress or to an image. The reverse also has a thin central tube into which a peacock feather could be inserted adding further embellishment to the headdress.

The panel is in excellent condition.