Not currently on display at the V&A

Torque

Torque
1860 to 1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria.

The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. The pendants usually end in coins, but this example has discs of filigree in an unusual swirling pattern. Torques were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTorque
Materials and techniques
Silver and silver filigree
Brief description
Small twisted silver torque with hook and eye fastening and five chain pendants, Lebanon, 1860-1870.
Physical description
A torque of thick twisted silver wire ending in a loop at each end. There is a thinner strand of twisted wire wrapped between the twists of the main wire. There are four loops attached at the front, two at each side, from each of which hangs a length of loop-in-loop chain. There is a flat comma-shaped pendant at the top and centre of each chain, and a disc of open filigree in a swirling pattern at the end. The ends of the torque are linked by a figure-of-eight fastener which has a similar chain hanging from it.
DimensionsWidth of torque 11 cm Length of chain (maximum) 11.4 cm
Summary
A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria.

The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. The pendants usually end in coins, but this example has discs of filigree in an unusual swirling pattern. Torques were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin.
Collection
Accession number
84-1873

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Record createdApril 8, 2003
Record URL
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