Indian Plaque Amulet Depicting Kali

Many arms swing out in a dance, and the necklace bounces along with them.

This plaque amulet depicting Kali is Hindu, from Rajasthan, India, in coin silver. Kali, one of the fierce forms of the goddess, is widely worshipped as a destroyer of evil and protector of devotees, and her image appears often on protective amulets. Here she is shown frontally on a teardrop-shaped plaque, mid-stride, with outstretched arms holding implements and a long beaded necklace across her body. Her face is round and wide-eyed beneath a crown. A dotted border edges the plaque, with a floral boss and loop above and a small finial below. It is 2 inches long and 2.88 high.

Fierce, yes, and remarkably graceful about it.