Not currently on display at the V&A

Pectoral Cross

ca. 1870 (made)
Place of origin

Pectoral Cross for a Bishop of the Church of England, of gold, inset with rubies. The Cross is of the "Latin" shape, the ends of the arms being pointed. The raised edge is studded with "pigeons-blood" rubies whilst the extremities and intersecting point of the sunk portion have larger rubies backed with silver foil. In the lid of the leather case for the cross is the inscription in gold lettering:
"Given by the King of Burmah to Robert Milman, Bishop of Calcutta at Mandalay, August 1870"


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Cross
  • Box
Materials and techniques
Gold, inset with rubies
Brief description
Burmese pectoral cross of gold set with rubies and leather case, Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), ca. 1870.
Physical description
Pectoral Cross for a Bishop of the Church of England, of gold, inset with rubies. The Cross is of the "Latin" shape, the ends of the arms being pointed. The raised edge is studded with "pigeons-blood" rubies whilst the extremities and intersecting point of the sunk portion have larger rubies backed with silver foil. In the lid of the leather case for the cross is the inscription in gold lettering:
"Given by the King of Burmah to Robert Milman, Bishop of Calcutta at Mandalay, August 1870"
Dimensions
  • Length: 9.2cm
  • Width: 7.2cm
  • Thickness: .5cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Lady Constance Arbuthnot
Object history
This cross was specially made for a Bishop of the Church of England, Robert Milman (1816-1876), Bishop of Calcutta 1867-1876), by King Min-don (reigned 1853-78), who presented it to him in August 1870. Although given by the king, it was not presented to him personally due to the disagreements over protocol between Britain and Burma at the time.

In the lid of the leather case for the cross, is the inscription in gold lettering:
"Given by the King of Burmah to Robert Milman,
Bishop of Calcutta at Mandalay, August 1870"

The donor was Robert Milman's niece.
Bibliographic references
  • Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 : cat. no. 31
  • Nandagopal, Choodamani. "Burmese Jewellery From The Collection of The V&A". in The Art of Burma - New Studies; ed. Donald M. Stadtner Marg Publication, Mumbai 1999. 178p., ill.
Collection
Accession number
IM.48-1932

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Record createdDecember 1, 1999
Record URL
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