Naga ring

Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
19th century -
Geography
Rattanakosin, Thailand -
Material
Gold -
Dimension
H x W x D: 3.5 × 3 × 1.5 cm (1 3/8 × 1 3/16 × 9/16 in) -
Accession Number
S2018.5 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_S2018.5
Object Details
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Description
Exquisitely fashioned from 22 carat gold, the ring takes the shape of a coiled naga. The tip of its tail coils close beside the band, and the body spirals around the finger, culminating in a powerful face with bulging eyes, upturned snout, and mouth with fanged teeth and extended tongue. The serpent’s scales are individually articulated along the full surface. Left intentionally loose by the artisan, the tongue moves in and out, simulating a living creature. -
Collection
National Museum of Asian Art Collection -
Exhibition History
The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas (March 25, 2023 - ongoing)Power in Southeast Asia (October 14, 2017 to March 13, 2020) -
Origin
Rattanakosin, Thailand -
Credit Line
Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries -
Type
Jewelry and Ornament -
On View
Sackler Gallery 22a: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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