5542

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    Gold Indian Kokke Thathi Pendant

    Tamil Nadu, South India
    late 19th-early 20th century

    length: 4.7cm, weight: 12.8g

    Sold

    Provenance

    UK art market

    – scroll down to see further images –

    This fine, gold crescent-moon kokke thathi pendant is decorated with excellent gold granulation and applied scrolling gold wire work.

    The body is of high-grade, hammered sheet gold, and filled with lac.

    The top of the pendant is decorated with a floral motif in gold and with what is most probably a small ruby cabochon at its centre.

    Such pendants were worn on necklaces by people who live in the Niligiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.

    Hoek (2004, p. 142) provides a different interpretation and attribution in respect of a similar silver example. In this case, it is attributed to nearby Kerala and is said to resemble a milk bottle with two teats at either end and is worn as an amulet by women hoping to become pregnant.

    The pendant here is stable and very wearable.

    References

    Bala Krishnan, U.R. et al, Icons in Gold: Jewelry of India from the Collection of the Musée Barbier-Mueller, Somogy, 2005.

    Hoek, C., et al, Ethnic Jewellery: From Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands, Pepin Press, 2004.

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