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Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings

Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings

$750.00

Description

DATE: Victorian, c.1890

Charming antique silver earrings featuring a female deity wrapped in snakes, possibly (Hindu mythology sadly not being my strong point) "Manasa Devi" the snake goddess - I did happen to read 'Gun Island', Amitav Ghosh's wonderful novel partly set in the Sunderbans of West Bengal. In Hindu mythology, whether this is indeed Manasa Devi or not, snakes represent a number or dualities: fearsome entities representing both death and eternity, freedom and materialism, rebirth and mortality. Serpents, or nagas, are associated with Shiva and Vishnu , who rested on a 100 headed naga coiled around Shiva's neck. They date from the late 19th century, circa 1890, and hollow construction makes them comfortable to wear in spite of their size.

MEASUREMENTS 

Length: 4.9cm

Width: 2.0cm

WEIGHT 

6.5g

MARKS 

No marks present, test as silver

CONDITION 

Very good, ear wires are probably later additions

Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings Victorian Silver Snake Goddess Earrings

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