Amulet Case

This gold and coral amulet case is decorated with a variety of vegetal and figural forms. The body is chiseled in relief in eight rows, comprised of alternating human faces, bird and floral motifs. The elongated shape of the amulet alludes to a form that would have held rolled up pieces of paper inscribed with holy words.

This ornament was formerly in the collection of American artist and designer Lockwood de Forest (1850–1932) who purchased many items while traveling in India between 1879–1881. He collected many different examples of jewelry from India, including several of the same type. Today, his assemblage in the Met serves as a near-comprehensive study collection of Indian jewelry from the late nineteenth century.