Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
The Himalayas and South-East Asia, Room 47a

Jewellery

Amulet Box
18th century-19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This amulet box or ‘jantar’ is of a type made and used by Newars in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Like Tibetan amulet cases, jantars were used to contain prayers written on paper or other blessed objects believed to protect the wearer. This box features the ‘jarao’ inlay technique, which combines the setting of stones in cloisons with filigree wire decoration to cover the surfaces of jewellery and ritual objects. The technique was especially popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. The central face of this example is a mythical Chepu or monster mask.


Object details

Object type
TitleJewellery (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver gilt, covered with cut and shaped semi-precious and precious stones
Brief description
Ceremonial Amulet, silver gilt, Nepal, 18th century.
Physical description
A silver-gilt box covered with cut and shaped semi-precious and precious stones in the Jarao technique. The central face is a mythical Chepu or monster mask.
Dimensions
  • Length: 9.2cm
  • Width: 7.6cm
  • Depth: 1.5cm
Gallery label
Earring and Amulet Box (Jantar) 1700–1800 Shah period The Newar people were well known for their skill as jewellers and for this type of stone encrustation, called jarao work. Earrings such as this were used to adorn religious images. Jantars , like Tibetan amulet boxes, were used to contain prayers written on paper, or other sacred objects believed to protect the wearer. Nepal 12. Gilded silver, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, beryl, ruby and sapphire Museum no. IM.84A-1911 13. Gilded silver, turquoise, coral, ruby, sapphire, emerald and garnet Museum no. IM.91-1911(14/06/2011)
Credit line
Purchased from Imre Schwaiger, 39 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W
Object history
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Production
Kathmandu valley
Summary
This amulet box or ‘jantar’ is of a type made and used by Newars in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Like Tibetan amulet cases, jantars were used to contain prayers written on paper or other blessed objects believed to protect the wearer. This box features the ‘jarao’ inlay technique, which combines the setting of stones in cloisons with filigree wire decoration to cover the surfaces of jewellery and ritual objects. The technique was especially popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. The central face of this example is a mythical Chepu or monster mask.
Bibliographic reference
John Clarke: Jewellery of Tibet and Himalayas, V&A Publications ISBN 1 85177 4238, 2004, page 113, no.111.
Collection
Accession number
IM.91-1911

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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