H x W x D: 3.5 × 3 × 1.5 cm (1 3/8 × 1 3/16 × 9/16 in)
Type:
Jewelry and Ornament
Origin:
Rattanakosin, Thailand
Date:
19th century
Period:
Bangkok period
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)