Not currently on display at the V&A

Breast ornament

Breast Ornament
1850-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Turkoman jewellery is one of the most distinctive and easily recognisable styles of traditional jewellery. It was worn by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia, in the present region of Turkmenistan and parts of northern Iran and Afghanistan. Although individual pieces rarely date from any earlier than the 19th century, many of the designs and symbols used are much older, often pre-Islamic in origin.

These lozenge-shaped breast ornaments, sparsely decorated with applied gallery wire and cornelians, were sewn to the garment in pairs, and often have a hook and eye so that they can be used to fasten the front opening. The name chanjuk (or gondshuk) derives from a Turkic word meaning flat.

They were acquired in Turkestan in 1884-5, during an Anglo-Russian conference to define the north-west frontier of Afghanistan, and were given to the Museum in 1900.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Ornament
  • Ornament
Titles
  • Breast ornament (generic title)
  • Chanjuks
Materials and techniques
Stamped silver set with cornelians
Brief description
Pair of lozenge-shaped silver breast ornaments (chanjuk) each decorated with three cornelians and pendent chains, Turkestan, 1850-1880.
Physical description
Pair of silver horizontal lozenge-shaped pendants set with cornelians. Each pendant is made from a plate of sheet silver with a strip of gallery wire soldered round the edge of the front to form a rim. There are three shuttle-shaped cornelians, each cut with a ridge across its centre, set in a row across the centre of the plate. There is a loop at the top of each plate for suspension and a ring at each side. There are nine loops hanging from the two lower sides, each of which holds a pendant consisting of a length of square-section loop-in-loop wire ending in a vertical lozenge of sheet silver stamped with a stylised flower.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.5cm
  • Width: 10cm
Object history
Letter in register:
'My husband bought the little cap [739-1900], breast ornament [736-1900] & head dress [735-1900], with large ear-rings [737&A-1900, 738&A-1900] from Turkestan, when with Sir Peter Lumsden in 1884 & 5. Also heavy bracelets [733&A-1900]. The shawl fastener [732-1900] & brooch [731-1900], are of Kabyle workmanship & I brought them from Algiers. Kabyle jewelry will be known by having coral & turquoise settings - Turkestan, by cornelian in silver'
Summary
Turkoman jewellery is one of the most distinctive and easily recognisable styles of traditional jewellery. It was worn by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia, in the present region of Turkmenistan and parts of northern Iran and Afghanistan. Although individual pieces rarely date from any earlier than the 19th century, many of the designs and symbols used are much older, often pre-Islamic in origin.

These lozenge-shaped breast ornaments, sparsely decorated with applied gallery wire and cornelians, were sewn to the garment in pairs, and often have a hook and eye so that they can be used to fasten the front opening. The name chanjuk (or gondshuk) derives from a Turkic word meaning flat.

They were acquired in Turkestan in 1884-5, during an Anglo-Russian conference to define the north-west frontier of Afghanistan, and were given to the Museum in 1900.
Collection
Accession number
734&A-1900

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdApril 17, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest