Thali

South India, Tamil Nadu, ca 1920

A rare gold and enamelled thali. This Hindu wedding ornament and auspicious amulet is worn by women in South India, as a sign of marriage. It is removed upon being widowed.
The design of a Thali is always the same. At the top are two apsarasas, in the center an image of the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, sitting on a Lotus flower, in the lower area are deer.
Decorating a Thali with enamel is very rare, normally a Thali is plain gold. The used colour combination in the enamel is also exceptional.

Research report by Naturalis Biodiversity Centre available on request