Circular glass mirror in frame, greyish green nephrite jade, inset rubies in gold, Mughal empire

A circular glass mirror set into a greyish green nephrite jade frame.
The circular frame has a pierced border that has been carved in relief on both faces as repeating groups of three stylised leaves. At the top and bottom are a pair of pierced and carved scrolled leaves that run to either side of a central flat leaf with a multi-petalled flower bud pointing outwards. On either side there is a protrusion pierced and carved as a single scrolled leaf, one of which has been damaged with a scroll missing.
On the back face, it is solid with the central disc being carved in low relief with a flower and leaf design within a slightly raised, narrow, circular border.
On the front face, encircling the steeply bevelled mirror, there is a double band of gold within which were once set sixty ruby cabochons - but one is now missing.
The reflective surface of the mirror shows signs of deterioration.

In 1874, this mirror was bought by The South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) from the Webb Collection for the sum of £15-0-0

The frame of this mirror made within the Mughal empire, probably in the 18th century, has been expertly fashioned from a single piece of dark green nephrite jade. Nephrite is a hard and durable material that requires patience and skill to work successfully. An object such as this would have been made for a wealthy or important person or someone close to them. The mirror is held in place by a band of kundan gold set with rubies.

271-1874