Pair of Thandatti earrings in 14k (585 thousandths) yellow g - Lot 44

Pair of Thandatti earrings in 14k (585 thousandths) yellow gold. Gold on a vegetable resin base. South India, Tamil Nadu, late 19th - early 20th century Weight: 19.2 g H. 3.5 cm Provenance : Colette Ghijsels Collection Private collection, Belgium Bibliography: Reproduced in "Boucles d'oreilles d'Afrique, d'Asie et d'Amérique de la collection Ghysels", Anne van Cutsem, Skira/Seuil, p. 121 The Thandatti is made up of cubic, spherical and arched geometric elements. The shape is reminiscent of the asymmetrical ear ornaments worn by Shiva, the tutelary goddess of the Nadar community in Tamil Nadu. The earrings are designed to be worn on ears with distended lobes. A similar pair can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum (2022.263a,b).