The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 13, 2026

Gold earrings feature teardrop-shaped medallions with intricate openwork. At the center, a blue figure with four arms sits astride a red birdlike creature with teal wings. Small colorful gemstones punctuate the gold frame. From the base, several gold chains hang, each threaded with two pearls and ending in a flat gold disc. A tapered gold post with a flared cap rises from the top of the ornament.

Pair of Earrings with Vishnu Riding Garuda

1600s or 1700s

Gold set with precious and semiprecious stones
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1915.342
Location: 237 Himalayan

Did You Know?

The father of Jeptha Homer Wade II (1857–1926), who owned these earrings, gave the land for the museum and Wade Oval.

Description

These earrings were made to hang on large bronze 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.
  • Inaugural Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (co-organizer) (June 6-September 20, 1916).
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Earrings with Vishnu Riding Garuda|url=false|author=|year=1600s or 1700s|access-date=13 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1915.342