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Necklace - Necklace

Necklace

  • Object:

    Necklace

  • Place of origin:

    Madras (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Engraved gold, set with rubies, diamonds and pastes

  • Museum number:

    03314(IS)

  • Gallery location:

    South Asia, Room 41, case 10

The sliding gold chain supports a gold pendant set with rubies, diamonds and pastes (imitation precious stones), which may also be worn as a brooch. The necklace shows obvious European influence in its form and claw-set stones, but the motifs are larger than those of Western models and the gauge of the metal slightly thicker.

The piece was acquired as being from Madras from an unnamed exhibition in 1855 by the Indian Museum. This museum was formed by the East India Company in the early 19th century and housed in the company’s premises in London, before being divided between the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the British Museum in 1879. The necklace was approvingly described at the time as having ‘a very chaste design’.

Physical description

Engraved gold necklace set with rubies, diamonds and pastes. Gold formed in foliate motifs with central white stone/paste, surrounded by diamonds, with two rubies above, and a pale blue stone/paste above.

Place of Origin

Madras (made)

Date

ca. 1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Engraved gold, set with rubies, diamonds and pastes

Dimensions

Height: 3.8 cm, Width: 4.4 cm

Object history note

The form of the necklace, and the claw setting of the stones of the pendant show obvious European influence, but the motifs are larger and the gauge of the metal thicker. Acquired by the Indian Museum in 1855 from an unnamed exhibition.

Descriptive line

Necklace, gold set with rubies, diamonds and pastes, Madras, ca. 1850.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

p.102-103
Susan Stronge, Nima Smith, and J.C. Harle. A Golden Treasury : Jewellery from the Indian Subcontinent London : Victoria and Albert Museum in association with Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, 1988.
Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224, p.210, pl.184

Materials

Gold; Diamond; Ruby; Paste

Techniques

Engraved

Subjects depicted

Leaves

Categories

ELISE; Jewellery; Metalwork; India Museum

Collection

South & South East Asia Collection

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