Mirror
18th century (made)
Place of origin |
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.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Greyish green nephrite jade, glass, gold and ruby. Fashioned using a variety of techniques, often using abrasives and abrasive-charged tools. |
Brief description | Circular glass mirror in frame, greyish green nephrite jade, inset rubies in gold, Mughal empire |
Physical description | 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. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | 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 |
Summary | 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. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 271-1874 |
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Record created | June 25, 2009 |
Record URL |
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