In Nepal, sculptures of deities were adorned with jewellery larger than pieces made for human beings. This pair of earrings features the Hindu god Vishnu seated cross-legged riding his mount the man-eagle Garuda. Garuda’s arms are outstretched, grabbing the tails of serpents whose braided bodies snake up both sides of each earring. His wings drape like a cape behind him, and his talons clutch his crescent moon perch. Serpent hoods rise up behind Vishnu like a canopy.
Fun Fact
Vishnu and Garuda are solar deities, and they sit on the crescent moon, so the light of both celestial bodies shines from these earrings.
Details
- Title : Pair of Earrings with Four-Armed Vishnu Riding Garuda with Nagas (serpent divinities)
- Year : 1600s or 1700s
- Classification : Cultural Objects/Jewellery
- Medium : Repousse gold with pearls
- Dimension : Overall: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.) / Overall: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : 1600s or 1700s
- Collection : The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1915.346/ 1915.346.1/ 1915.346.2
- 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).