Forehead Ornament
18th century-19th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
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.
Object details
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Silver gilt, covered with semi-precious and precious stones |
Brief description | Forehead ornament for an image, silver-gilt etc., 18th century, Nepal. |
Physical description | A silver-gilt forehead plaque covered with turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, aquamarine, zircon and freshwater pearls. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W |
Object history | Purchased from Imre Schwaiger. |
Production | Kathmandu Valley |
Summary | 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. |
Bibliographic reference | John Clarke: Jewellery of Tibet and Himalayas, V&A Publications
ISBN 1 85177 4238, 2004, page 110, no.108. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IM.160-1913 |
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Record created | February 9, 2004 |
Record URL |
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