Indian Necklace with Narsimha Pendant

A lion's face in gold, red-eyed, resting just where the collarbone would be.

This necklace with a Narsimha pendant comes from India and dates to the 20th century. It is tourmaline, ruby, emerald and gold. Narsimha, the man-lion, is the fierce form of Vishnu in Hindu tradition, said to have appeared in order to destroy a tyrant. The wide gold crescent is thick with relief, a snarling central face flanked by scaled mythic beasts and curling waves. A green stone crowns it and a small medallion hangs below. Dark wine-colored beads complete the strand. Twenty-five inches long.

In gold, the fury looks almost polite. Almost.