Rijksmuseum

Hanger in de vorm van een makara

Date

c. 1600

Medium

ruby (mineral), sapphire (mineral), gold (metal)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

This pendant is actually a little whistle: a channel runs through the middle of the creature’s mouth which connects to a notch in the stomach. A whistling noise is created by blowing into the mouth of the water creature (makara). This object, however, was intented primarily as an ornament and was inspired by European whistles made of precious metal that were used by admirals and other naval officers.

The authoritative record is held by Rijksmuseum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.