Northern Indian Enamelled Silver Vishnupada Necklace

This very striking and wearable necklace from Himachal Pradesh is of six strands with six main green and blue enamelled silver plaques; two triangular enamelled silver end plaques or terminals; eighteen smaller, enamelled silver plaques; and dozens of tiny, faceted silver beads.

All the plaques other than the terminals are decorated with pairs of feet, these being symbolic of Vishnu and known as Vishnupada.

A related example is illustrated in Leurquin (2003, p. 239).

The necklace retains its original plaited cream cord. There are minor enamel losses to some of the plaques.