Not currently on display at the V&A

Walking Stick Pommel

Place of origin

This walking stick pommel has been fashioned from a single piece of nephrite jade, which is a hard and durable material that requires patience and skill to work. Nicely worked objects such as this, fashioned from nephrite, would have been destined for people of some means. It was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India and bought from him by the museum in 1874. Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia. He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867. He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Greenish grey nephrite jade, fashioned using abrasives and abrasive-charged tools.
Brief description
Walking stick pommel, lotus bud form, detail carved in low relief, greenish grey nephrite jade, India
Physical description
A walking stick pommel, near-spherical with detail carved in low relief as a lotus flower bud, on a short stem that is wedge-shaped at the end and which has a roundel just under the bud. The roundel has been contoured with two grooves to give a wide central ridge and thinner upper and lower sections. Fashioned as a single piece in greenish grey nephrite jade.
Dimensions
  • Height: 54.4mm (Note: Overall height)
  • Diameter: 26.8 to 27.4mm (Note: Diameter range of the lotus bud)
  • Height: 26.7mm (Note: Height of the lotus bud from the roundel)
  • Height: 9.9mm (Note: Height of the roundel)
  • Diameter: 22.8 to 23.3mm (Note: Diameter range of the roundel)
  • Diameter: 13.5 to 14.0mm (Note: Diameter range of the wedge-shaped end of the stem)
Object history
This walking stick pommel was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India (1829-1867). He subsequently sold it to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1874 for the sum of £2-0-0.

William Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia.
He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867.
He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India, in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".
Summary
This walking stick pommel has been fashioned from a single piece of nephrite jade, which is a hard and durable material that requires patience and skill to work. Nicely worked objects such as this, fashioned from nephrite, would have been destined for people of some means. It was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India and bought from him by the museum in 1874. Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia. He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867. He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".
Collection
Accession number
697-1874

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
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