Tribal women of Rajasthan like to adorn themselves with lots of silver jewellery. Most of those, however, serve not only as decorations but have a special meaning: protective or signalling about marital status.
These tribes, such as Banjara and Gadoliya, are very superstitious. They fear ghosts and evil spirits. To protect themselves they wear metal plaque amulets bearing an image of a Hindu deity usually accompanied by its animal vehicle. Such amulets are called madaliya in Rajasthan. They may be of different shape: rectangular, square, round, in the form of yoni or temple-shaped.
This piece is inspired by all these forms of ancient amulets.
