Indian Bronze Mold for Amulet

Crowded, many-armed seated figure fills a five-sided plaque edge to edge.

This bronze mold for casting or pressing amulets is from India, and dates to the early 20th century. A mold is a negative form, and by pressing or pouring material into it a maker can produce many copies of the same small image or design. Pentagonal plaque with a beaded border and a lively seated figure with raised arms, a crowned head, and a draped lower body. Curling decoration fills the side areas, and the surface is a warm, slightly scuffed gold. It is 1 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 0.25 high.

Not a speck of empty space left to waste.