Choker
1937-1938 (made)
| Place of origin |
The choker consists of nine gold plaques at the front, each set with nine precious stones, and twelve gold plaques with no gemstones at the back. A pendant is attached to the central one of the nine gem-set plaques at the front. It is also set with nine precious stones and has nine pendant stones attached individually to the bottom of it.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | The precious stones in each plaque and suspended from the central pendant are: hessonite garnets, rubies, sapphires, pink sapphires, white sapphires, emeralds, chrysoberyl cat’s eyes and pearls. This may be a variation on the popular navaratna (nine jewels) theme although coral is not included and white sapphires stand in for diamonds. The gemstones are of good quality though with some inclusions. Eight stones are missing from the nine plaques at the front of the choker. |
| Brief description | Gold wedding choker, Galle, Sri Lanka, c.1937-8. |
| Physical description | The choker consists of nine gold plaques at the front, each set with nine precious stones, and twelve gold plaques with no gemstones at the back. A pendant is attached to the central one of the nine gem-set plaques at the front. It is also set with nine precious stones and has nine pendant stones attached individually to the bottom of it. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Jayanthi Elliott in memory of Nancy Wickrematilleke and Donald Martyn Elliott. |
| Object history | This choker was made in Galle, Sri Lanka, to be presented to a bride on her wedding day in 1938 in accordance with local custom. |
| Associated object | IS.65-2016 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.61-2016 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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