Hardstone Brooch Components thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Hardstone Brooch Components

c.1850 (made)
Place of origin
Ahmedabad (made)

These (primarily) quartz hardstone segments were fashioned to be incorporated into a brooch or other item of jewellery in a ring form. The cutting and polishing were traditionally performed on an abrasive-charged, bow-driven disc or wheel and were produced in Ahmedabad in Gujarat State, India in the mid- to late 19th century. The city continues to be a major gem cutting and trade centre.


Object details

Categories
Gemstones
Hardstone
Jewellery
India Museum
Object type
Hardstone brooch components
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Brooch Components
  • Brooch Components
Materials and techniques
A variety of agates and jaspers plus one blue unknown but most probably glass.
Agate
Bloodstone
Carnelian
Glass
Jasper
Moss Agate
Brief description
Hardstone brooch components, two part-sets, one of five pieces and one of seven pieces, each with paper backing disc, Ahmedabad India, c. 1850
Physical description
Partial suites of hardstone segments, each designed to form a flattened ring, for incorporation into jewellery.
Dimensions
  • Five piece part set, 08271( is) length: 18 to 22mm
  • Five piece part set, 08271( is) width: 18 to 20mm (Note: Maximum width of the segment)
  • Five piece part set, 08271( is) width: 6 to 7mm (Note: Minimum width of the segment)
  • Five piece part set, 08271( is) thickness: 1.4 to 1.7mm (Note: Thickness at outer rim of segment)
  • Five piece part set, 08271( is) thickness: 3.5 to 4.0mm (Note: Thickness at inner rim of segment)
  • Seven piece part set, 08271 a ( is) length: 15.0 to 16.5mm
  • Seven piece part set, 08271 a ( is) width: 17 to 19mm (Note: Maximum width of segment)
  • Seven piece part set, 08271 a ( is) width: 5 to 7mm (Note: Minimum width of segment)
  • Seven piece part set, 08271 a ( is) thickness: 1.5 to 2.0mm (Note: Thickness at outer rim of segment)
  • Seven piece part set, 08271 a ( is) thickness: 2.8 to 3.4mm (Note: Thickness at inner rim of segment)
The pieces within each set vary in dimensions
Object history
Formerly in The India Museum in London and transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879.
Summary
These (primarily) quartz hardstone segments were fashioned to be incorporated into a brooch or other item of jewellery in a ring form. The cutting and polishing were traditionally performed on an abrasive-charged, bow-driven disc or wheel and were produced in Ahmedabad in Gujarat State, India in the mid- to late 19th century. The city continues to be a major gem cutting and trade centre.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
08271(IS) to 08271A/(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O450712/hardstone-brooch-components/
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