Artwork Page for Earring with Vishnu Riding Garuda

Details / Information for Earring with Vishnu Riding Garuda

Earring with Vishnu Riding Garuda

1600s or 1700s

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley

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Medium
Gold set with precious and semiprecious stones
Measurements
Overall: 2.5 cm (1 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1915.342.2
Public Domain
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Location
237 Himalayan
Print
?

Did You Know?

Jeptha Homer Wade II and his wife bought this and other jewelry and textiles on a trip to India.

Description

This earring was made to hang on sculptures of deities worshipped in Nepalese temples. Nepalese craftsmen excelled at the detailed encrustation of jewels to depict complex figural imagery. They shaped gold wires into a framework, then inserted polished stones into the spaces, held in place with an adhesive. Four-armed Vishnu is made of sapphires; his mount the man-eagle appears to be made of carnelian and spinel with wings of turquoise.
A gold earring features a vertical post and rounded cap atop a teardrop-shaped frame. In the center, a blue-faced Vishnu sits perched upon a winged Garuda, both inlaid with vibrant blue, red, and light green stones. A border of red gems frames the scene. Cascading from the base, multiple gold chains threaded with white pearls terminate in flat, circular gold discs.

Earring with Vishnu Riding Garuda

1600s or 1700s

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley

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