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Not currently on display at the V&A

Nose ring (nath)

Nose Ring
c.1853 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A nose ring, gold. The lower part is composed of a semi-circular band of gold, with two florets at either end and a line of concave discs between them. Either edge of the band has two parallel lines of three granules mounted in triangular shape. The upper half of the nath is attached on the right hand side by a loop which goes around a loop at the end of the lower half. There is a series of beads along the upper half, including two imitation pearls set with gold filigree mounts at either end and, in the centre, a green glass bead. The nath opens on the left by retracting the wire from its socket.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleNose ring (nath)
Materials and techniques
Gold with imitation gems
Brief description
Nose ring (nath), gold, Gujranwala, Pakistan, c.1853
Physical description
A nose ring, gold. The lower part is composed of a semi-circular band of gold, with two florets at either end and a line of concave discs between them. Either edge of the band has two parallel lines of three granules mounted in triangular shape. The upper half of the nath is attached on the right hand side by a loop which goes around a loop at the end of the lower half. There is a series of beads along the upper half, including two imitation pearls set with gold filigree mounts at either end and, in the centre, a green glass bead. The nath opens on the left by retracting the wire from its socket.
Dimensions
  • Maximum diameter: 7.6cm
Object history
Probably in the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855; transferred from the India Museum to the South Kensington Museum (now V&A) in 1879. Worn by women, the nath is one of the items of jewellery associated with marriage in parts of northern Indian, although it is likely this piece was made for exhibition.
Production
Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan
Bibliographic reference
Indian Jewellery: The V&A Collection London: V&A Publishing, 2008 Number: ISBN 9781851774838 p. 17, pl. 1.7
Collection
Accession number
03126(IS)

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Record createdJanuary 11, 2007
Record URL
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