Not currently on display at the V&A

Group of Cabochons

c.1850
Place of origin
Madras (made)

The carnelian cabochons in this collection were fashioned in Chennai (Madras) in the mid- to late 19th century and show a range of shapes and styles. Traditionally, most of the fashioning and polishing was accomplished using abrasive-charged discs that were turned on bow-driven lathes. A vast majority of the raw material is routinely subjected to heat-treatment to dry it and to permanently intensify the colour. This group was originally acquired by the Indian Museum and transferred to South Kensington in 1879.


Object details

Categories
Gemstones
Hardstone
Jewellery
India Museum
Object type
Group of cabochons
Parts
This object consists of 13 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
Materials and techniques
Carnelian, cut and polished using abrasives, usually on a bow-driven, rotating disc or wheel
Carnelian
Brief description
Collection of thirteen cabochons, carnelian, mainly oval, cut and polished, Madras India, c. 1850
Physical description
A collection of cut and polished cabochons, ten being oval with flattened or slightly domed tops (one damaged and several with crazing), one oval with a domed top bearing a ribbed surface, one with a stylised arrowhead outline with a domed top and one with a rounded rectangular outline with a flat top (damaged). Semi-translucent to opaque with colours ranging from medium orange to deep brownish orange, which have probably been intensified by heat-treatment.
Dimensions
  • Longest cabochon, 08269 1 ( is) length: 44.6mm
  • Longest cabochon, 08269 1 ( is) width: 28.1mm
  • Longest cabochon, 08269 1 ( is) depth: 9.3mm (Note: Maximum depth)
  • Ribbed cabochon, 08269 11 ( is) length: 19.5mm
  • Ribbed cabochon, 08269 11 ( is) width: 15.8mm
  • Ribbed cabochon, 08269 11 ( is) depth: 6.1mm (Note: Maximum depth)
  • Arrowhead cabochon, 08269 12 ( is) length: 25.0mm
  • Arrowhead cabochon, 08269 12 ( is) width: 17.7mm (Note: Maximum width)
  • Arrowhead cabochon, 08269 12 ( is) depth: 5.5mm (Note: Maximum depth)
  • Rounded rectangular cabochon, 08269 13 ( is) length: 19.8mm
  • Rounded rectangular cabochon, 08269 13 ( is) width: 14.7mm
  • Rounded rectangular cabochon, 08269 13 ( is) depth: 5.4mm
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
The carnelian cabochons in this collection were fashioned in Chennai (Madras) in the mid- to late 19th century and show a range of shapes and styles. Traditionally, most of the fashioning and polishing was accomplished using abrasive-charged discs that were turned on bow-driven lathes. A vast majority of the raw material is routinely subjected to heat-treatment to dry it and to permanently intensify the colour. This group was originally acquired by the Indian Museum and transferred to South Kensington in 1879.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
08269:1/(IS) to 08269:13/(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O472469/group-of-cabochons/
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