Photos

"This gold pendant decorated with a central standing figure of Lakshmi beneath a protective hooded cobra, is possibly from a workshop in the important pilgrimage city of Madurai. It is made of 18 carat gold, most probably over a lac core. It is set with five relatively large rose-cut diamonds and nine smaller ones. There are nine large ruby cabochons and six smaller ones, and a pendant fringe of 27 tiny emerald beads.

 

"The gold suspension loop at the top has later British assay marks.

 

"Pendants like these were used as an ornament on a long hair braid on the back of a woman’s head and would have been worn on festive occasions. They also were worn as pendants suspended from a necklace." Michael Backman.