Armlet, One of a Pair
Not on view
This type of armband (vanki) is in a style that is referred to as swami. Swami metalwork and jewels were produced in southern India during the mid- to late nineteenth century and are characterized by micro-repoussage depictions of the Hindu pantheon of deities. Here, the god Krishna plays the flute and is flanked by animals and gopis (milkmaids).
The most well-known swami metalwork was produced in Madras by the Anglo-Indian Company P. Orr & Sons. Mail-order catalogues produced by this firm facilitated the circulation of swami metal objects and jewelry to places as far away as England, the United States, and Australia.
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