Chauri Handle
18th century (made)
| Place of origin |
This handle made within the Mughal empire, probably in the 18th century, has been fashioned from a large crystal of clear, colourless rock crystal that was free of major flaws and inclusions. It tapers from a square, drilled end to the other, waisted end that terminates in an almost conical finial. Both ends have carved and raised, engraved motifs and the pointed end also has a circumferential, gold band, set with small, round cabochons which alternate between three blue sapphires, two rubies and one red rhodolite garnet. It came from a collection of Indian rock crystal objects that was offered for sale to the museum in 1920 by Captain Rupert Simson, who was following his late father's wishes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Rock crystal, blue sapphire, gold, rhodolite garnet and ruby, fashioned using a variety of techniques. |
| Brief description | Handle for a fly-whisk, rock crystal, gold, gems, Mughal empire, probably 18th century |
| Physical description | A long, slender, colourless rock crystal handle that tapers from a square, drilled end to the other, waisted end that terminates in an almost conical finial. Both ends have carved and raised, engraved motifs and the pointed end also has a circumferential, gold band, set with small, round cabochons which alternate between three blue sapphires, two rubies and one red rhodolite garnet. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Purchased from Captain Rupert Simson on behalf of the Public Trustee, the sole executor and trustee of his father's estate |
| Object history | This fly-whisk handle is part of a collection of Indian rock crystal objects that was offered for sale to the museum in 1920 by Captain Rupert Simson, who was following his late father's wishes. The whole collection was bought for the sum of £550-0-0. |
| Summary | This handle made within the Mughal empire, probably in the 18th century, has been fashioned from a large crystal of clear, colourless rock crystal that was free of major flaws and inclusions. It tapers from a square, drilled end to the other, waisted end that terminates in an almost conical finial. Both ends have carved and raised, engraved motifs and the pointed end also has a circumferential, gold band, set with small, round cabochons which alternate between three blue sapphires, two rubies and one red rhodolite garnet. It came from a collection of Indian rock crystal objects that was offered for sale to the museum in 1920 by Captain Rupert Simson, who was following his late father's wishes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.331-1920 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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