AN OPENWORK BRASS HINDU PRIEST PENDANT WITH THE MONKEY GOD, HANUMAN
South India, 18th century

Of circular shape, featuring the Hindu God Hanuman in the middle, the celestial monkey army chief and devoted follower of Rama, a central figure in the great Hindu epic by Valmiki, the Ramayana, shown here standing with his legs wide apart, one arm raised and the latter holding a long foliate stem, possibly a reference to healing herbs (sanjivani buti) gathered by Hanuman during a battle in which Rama and his troops were injured, surmounted by a small triumphant figurine with conical headdress, possibly Vishnu, and crushing another small figurine in the foreground, possibly a demon, encased within an openwork chequered grid, and surmounted by a five-headed naga snake, with a plain hanging hoop at the back to be strung and worn at mid-height of the officiating priest's chest.

14.3cm diameter