Indian Plaque Amulet Depicting Lion

Slim, long-legged maned creature paces under a tiny knob at the top.

This plaque amulet depicting a lion is Hindu, from Rajasthan, India. It is coin silver. Silver amulets from Rajasthan are often made from coin silver, which gave smiths a metal of fairly standard purity that works well for stamping and engraving. Seen straight on, a small round pendant with a fine beaded border and a slender loop. The creature has a pointed muzzle, a spiky mane, thin legs and a tail curling above its back. The surface is a soft gray with mild rubbing at the high points. It is 0.5 inches long and 0.75 high.

Lean, alert, and ready to leave the frame.