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.
Fun Fact
This was among the first works to enter the museum’s collection.
Jeptha Homer Wade II and his wife bought this and other jewellery and textiles on a trip to India.
Details
- Title : Earring with Vishnu Riding Garuda
- Year : 1600s or 1700s
- Classification : Cultural Objects/Jewellery
- Medium : Gold set with precious and semiprecious stones
- Dimension : Overall: 2.6 cm (1 in.)/ Overall: 2.5 cm (1 in.)
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
- Collection : The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1915.342.1 /Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1915.342.2
- Status : On View 237 Himalayan
- Collection : Nepalese Art
- Department : Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Exhibition history : Inaugural Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (co-organizer) (June 6-September 20, 1916).