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Necklace

2nd quarter 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This reddish gold filigree necklace is an example of the "trembling necklace" known as a le-ton which would have been worn by a well dressed Burmese woman in the first half of the nineteenth century. Ornamented with peacocks, (a symbol of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885)) rosettes, pendants and birds, it would have been one of a variety of necklaces worn by a woman of high social standing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Filigree work of reddish gold, achieved by either boiling the gold with tamarind seeds or by exposing it to the fumes of burning sulphur during the smelting process
Brief description
Burmese reddish gold filigree necklace, Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), ornamented with rosettes, pendants and birds. ca. before 1852
Physical description
An example of le-ton (trembling necklace) or small da-li-zan (worn over the chest, bib-like) with intermeshed and pendant rosettes and 3 hamsas or peacocks.
Dimensions
  • Length: 28cm
  • Maximum width: 8cm
  • Height: 5.4cm
  • Max. (cockerel motifs) depth: 1cm
Style
Object history
Bought from the Exhibition of 1851
Production
Burma, (Myanmar)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This reddish gold filigree necklace is an example of the "trembling necklace" known as a le-ton which would have been worn by a well dressed Burmese woman in the first half of the nineteenth century. Ornamented with peacocks, (a symbol of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885)) rosettes, pendants and birds, it would have been one of a variety of necklaces worn by a woman of high social standing.
Bibliographic references
  • Science and Art Department, Museum of South Kensington. Inventory Vol. I.; 1852-1867; p.27 Richter, Anne. The Jewelry of Southeast Asia Thames and Hudson, London 2000. pl.43
  • Barnard, Nick, Indian Jewellery: The V&A Collection London: V&A Publishing, 2008 Number: ISBN 9781851774838 p. 91, pl. 4.9
Collection
Accession number
123-1852

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Record createdNovember 22, 1999
Record URL
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