Pair of Ear Clips with Bead in Four-Prong Lotus Base Setting
Unknown Artist
Second half of the 8th–second half of the 10th century
Medium
Gold with bead
Dimensions
Each: H. 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Diam. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Classification
Jewelry
Culture & Period
Indonesia (Java) · Central Javanese period
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Samuel Eilenberg-Jonathan P. Rosen Collection of Indonesian Gold, Bequest of Samuel Eilenberg and Gift of Jonathan P. Rosen, 1998
Accession Number
1998.544.179a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
These delicate ear clips, crafted from gold with a central bead set in a four-prong lotus base hail from Java, Indonesia, during the Central Javan period (second half of the 8th to second half of the10th century). Measuring just 1/8 inch high and 3/8 inch in diameter each, they exemplify the exquisite miniaturization of ancient metalworking techniques. The lotus motif, a recurring symbol in the region's art, evokes purity and spiritual enlightenment, deeply rooted in the Hindu-Buddhist traditions that flourished under dynasties like the Sailendras and Mataram. In the opulent courts of Central...