Description AN EXTRE MELY RARE AND FINE CHAM GEMSTONE-SET GOLD REPOUSSé CROWN WITH GARUDAS
Champa, 10th-13th century. The richly decorated crown with fine repoussé depicting three Garudas, only the central bird with wings but all three exhibiting both bird and human features, such as a beak as well as arms, set with gemstones above each bird, five above the central Garuda and three above the other two. Garuda is a legendary bird of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain mythology, a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds as well as the mount of Vishnu.
Provenance: Ex-Collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with minor traces of age and wear, some minor bending, and soil encrustations.
Weight: 81.3 g
Dimensions: Height 7.9 cm, Width 14.5 cm
Published: Gold Treasures of the Cham Kingdoms from the Collection of Dr. Zelnik Volume 2, no. 3 (pages 55, 56 and 97), Budapest 2008. Art of Champa, Arts of Southeast Asia, pages 68 and 94, Issue 4, 2020.
Assay data: Gold 68 %, Silver 30 %, Copper 1 %.