Necklace Inscribed with the Name of King Pratapamalladeva
About 1650
Medium
Gilt copper with semiprecious stones
Dimensions
36.2 × 35.6 × 8.9 cm (14 1/4 × 14 × 3 1/2 in.)
Classification
ceremonial object
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
130700
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This ornament may have been given by King Pratapamalla (r. 1641–74), ruler of the Malla dynasty of Nepal, to Taleju Bhavani, the revered patron goddess of the old palace in Kathmandu and the chief protective deity of Nepal and its royal family. King Pratapamalla may also have worn this collar when he participated in rituals. This complex piece is composed of five principal strands and bears the inscription: “Victory to the Mother-Goddess [Bhagavati devi Janani]. Hail! [This] is the necklace of t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...