Forehead ornament for an image, silver-gilt etc., 18th century, Nepal.

A silver-gilt forehead plaque covered with turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, aquamarine, zircon and freshwater pearls.

Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq.

This was part of a collection of Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan art objects that was purchased in 1913 from Imre Leonard Schwaiger was a well-respected London and Delhi-based dealer in gems, jewellery and eastern works of art. He was of Hungarian descent and, as a young man, he travelled to India where he became expert in appraising them, later becoming the foremost dealer and agent in such objects.
He built up a list of important clients and was friends with Jacques Cartier, looking after Cartier's interests in Delhi and acting as the company's agent in the purchase of gems, jewellery and objets d'art. Schwaiger was also responsible for introducing Cartier to all of the maharajas and other royals during his visit to India for the Dehi Durbar in 1911.
Imre Schwaiger developed a close working relationship with both the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum, assisting them with a number of acquisitions. He also generously donated a number of valuable objects to both institutions.

Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP 1912-3057M

Kathmandu Valley

This silver-gilt forehead plaque is covered with turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, aquamarine, zircon and freshwater pearls. Such forehead ornaments were fitted to large religious images by means of the hooks at each end. The Buddha figures represented in this example - at the centre, the red Amitabha Buddha, flanked by images of blue Buddha Akshobhya - suggest that it may have adorned a crowned image of one of the Five Meditational Buddhas, symbolic embodiments of particular aspects of Buddhahood. Images decorated with forehead plaques may still be seen in some shrines of the Kathmandu Valley today.

IM.160-1913