Title
Deity jewellery
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Tamil Nadu, South India
Material
Accession No.
2000-09121-006
Collection of
This gold hand encrusted with gemst is part of a group of separate diamond-emerald-ruby studded jewel pieces, that probably belongs to the utsavar (portable image) of Vishnu (one of the principal Hindu gods, Preserver of the Universe). Such ornamented accessories would be used on special festive occasions to dress-up a small deity image. The various ornaments and accessories, fine examples of Tamil stone jewellery setting craftsmanship, would be donated by individual devotees to the temple. As temples are still the main repositories of these jewels, very few of these pieces are seen in private or public collections.
