Indian Figurative Casting Mold Depicting Deity

Diamond-shaped plaque with crowded petals and a small bird-like crest on top.

This silver figurative casting mold depicting a deity is from India, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. Silver is a soft, bright metal that can be engraved and chased in fine detail, which makes it well suited to small relief images. Compact kite-shaped plate with a raised center ridge crowned by a small beaked form. Layers of pointed petals and rounded bubbles radiate downward in relief. The lower edges are smooth and bright, while the recesses are dark. It is 1.75 inches wide, 0.5 deep and 1.5 high.

Busy, blooming and impressively confident in its crowding.