Indian Plaque Amulet Depicting Dog

A pawprint-like boss perches on a small, soft-edged dog.

This plaque amulet depicting a dog 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. Small, slightly oval pendant with a tall, ridged loop topped by a tiny knob. A paw-shaped boss sits on the face, and the dog beneath it stands in soft relief. The metal is worn and the outline irregular. It is 0.5 inches long and 0.75 high.

Worn smooth, though still cheerful about it.