India early XX century
Old silver pendant necklace, used as a lingam casket box. These pendants were designed as containers to hold a sacred lingam stone representing the god Shiva.
With gold appliqué and a ruby on top of the casket.
Lingayats are a Hindu group who believe that Shiva is the only deity, rather than the 3 gods revered by other Hindus. They also believed that the sacred presence of Shiva was not simply confined to the temple, but that it could be held in these pendants for a personal connection to the god.
Bibliography: “Traditional Jewelry of India” by Oppi Untracht, page133.
This is an authentic and loved piece, in very good condition, from the early 20th century.
Dim: total chain 42 cm / pendant box 6,4 x 6 cm
Weight: 211 gr