Ritual Mask Ring
Ritual Mask Ring
Champa, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, circa 8th-10th century
Gold repoussé inset with nine stones
Diameter: 3.2 cm, Weight: 11 grams
This ring is unique among the items in this collection and unusual for Champa gold jewelry in general. Furthermore, the ritual masks on both sides of the ring show strong influences from Java. The faces of Kala, Makara and Rahu are well represented in Cham art but this type of ritual mask is rarely depicted. The face on this ring could represent Yama, the god of death. Regardless, all of these masks, facial representations of gods or demons, were important images often shown side-by-side with Hindu divinities, to protect or to ward off evil spirits. The repoussé mask on this ring displays some menacing features to include intense bulging eyes, large nose, angular bony cheeks, but most extraordinary of all is the impressive array of fangs and exposed teeth. The central feature of this ring is the nine-cabochon stones set in the shape of a lotus flower. The center stone is the largest and is surrounded by 8 smaller stones, each separated by a granule bead. A skilled goldsmith painstakingly executed the design and execution of this ring.
Champa, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, circa 8th-10th century
Gold repoussé inset with nine stones
Diameter: 3.2 cm, Weight: 11 grams
This ring is unique among the items in this collection and unusual for Champa gold jewelry in general. Furthermore, the ritual masks on both sides of the ring show strong influences from Java. The faces of Kala, Makara and Rahu are well represented in Cham art but this type of ritual mask is rarely depicted. The face on this ring could represent Yama, the god of death. Regardless, all of these masks, facial representations of gods or demons, were important images often shown side-by-side with Hindu divinities, to protect or to ward off evil spirits. The repoussé mask on this ring displays some menacing features to include intense bulging eyes, large nose, angular bony cheeks, but most extraordinary of all is the impressive array of fangs and exposed teeth. The central feature of this ring is the nine-cabochon stones set in the shape of a lotus flower. The center stone is the largest and is surrounded by 8 smaller stones, each separated by a granule bead. A skilled goldsmith painstakingly executed the design and execution of this ring.