Indian Plaque Amulet Depicting Durga on Lion

Rider on a spirited beast inside a ruled border, slightly bent at one corner.

This plaque amulet depicting Durga on a lion is Hindu, from Rajasthan, India. It is coin silver. Coin silver, an alloy of silver with a little copper, was widely used for jewelry in Rajasthan, where silversmiths have long worked in the metal. Pentagon-shaped plaque with a hooked loop at the top and a border of fine tick marks along the bottom. A frontal figure sits atop a leaping animal, and small leaf forms frame the upper corners. It is 0.6 inches long and 0.75 high.

Dignified, even with a slightly bent hem.