Earplug thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
The Himalayas and South-East Asia, Room 47a

Earplug

2nd quarter of the 19th century (made)
Place of origin

Formed with a tube - closed at one end with a rosette mounted with 18 diamonds and at the other a rosette surrounded by scrolling patterns in low relief.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold partly chased and stained with tamarind juice set with diamonds.
Brief description
Burmese gold and diamond nga-daung (earplug), Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), ca. 2nd quarter of the 19th century.
Physical description
Formed with a tube - closed at one end with a rosette mounted with 18 diamonds and at the other a rosette surrounded by scrolling patterns in low relief.
Style
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
Ear Plugs 1800–55 Konbaung period Ear plugs or ear tubes were worn as an adornment by all levels of Burmese society. Royalty and the nobility would have used ones made of precious materials such as these. Gold and diamonds Green jade Burma (probably Amarapura or Ava (now Inwa)) Acquired by the East India Company Museum in 1855 Museum nos. 03156&a (IS), 03172 (IS)(14/06/2011)
Object history
Originally a pair 1 written off RP/58/26817
Bibliographic reference
Nandagopal, Choodamani. "Burmese Jewellery From The Collection of The V&A". in The Art of Burma - New Studies; ed. Donald M. Stadtner Marg Publications, Mumbai 1999. 178p. ill
Other number
9824 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
03172(IS)

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Record createdNovember 30, 1999
Record URL
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