Not currently on display at the V&A

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
  • Length: 22cm
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 createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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