A 22-KARAT GOLD ‘LAKSHMI’ NECKLACE, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A 22-KARAT GOLD ‘LAKSHMI’ NECKLACE, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY Finely assembled, the necklace composed of forty-four compressed globular beads formed from thin gold sheet over a core, interspersed with two larger examples chased with foliate lappets. The upper sections are further adorned with a pair of elongated cylindrical amulets, densely incised with scrolling vines and each set with a small pink glass stone. At the center is a circular amulet containing a repoussé copper-alloy figure of the four-armed goddess Lakshmi, holding lotus blossoms in her raised secondary hands, while her primary hands are lowered in abhaya and varada mudra. The amulet is backed by a copper plate and further accented with two pink glass stones. The necklace is suspended from textile cords terminating in a large black tassel. Dimensions: Length 92 cm (total) Lakshmi is one of the principal goddesses of Hinduism and the embodiment of prosperity, abundance, beauty, and auspiciousness. She is the consort of Vishnu and, like him, assumes different manifestations according to the divine order being expressed. Her worship is closely associated with material well-being, royal fortune, fertility, and spiritual prosperity, making her one of the most enduringly popular deities across South Asia. According to Hindu mythology, Lakshmi emerged from the cosmic ocean during the Samudra Manthana, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, bearing the promise of good fortune and divine favor. She is frequently associated with the lotus, whose immaculate bloom rising from muddy waters symbolizes purity, beauty, and transcendence. Elephants, vessels of abundance, and streams of water may further emphasize her role as a bestower of fertility and wealth. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 25 October 2007, lot 563 Mid-Estimate: GBP 7,000 or approx. EUR 8,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related beads and pendant enclosing a repousse image. Note the size (26.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 18 June 2025, lot 182 Price: USD 16,380 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related beads and amulets. Note the size (37.4 cm).

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