Not on display

Necklet

1860-75 (made)
Place of origin

Gilt brass necklace with silver-gilt Egyptian coins. The beads of the necklace are in the form of seed pods (perhaps chillies).

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gilt brass, silver-gilt
Brief description
Necklace, gilt brass with silver-gilt coins, Sri Lanka or Egypt, c.1860-75.
Physical description
Gilt brass necklace with silver-gilt Egyptian coins. The beads of the necklace are in the form of seed pods (perhaps chillies).
Dimensions
  • Length: 38cm
  • Pendants depth: 7.2cm
Credit line
Given by H. M. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851
Object history
The necklace was on loan to the Museum from 1876 and given in 1920 by the Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851. It was acquired as from Sri Lanka, and came with Sri Lankan material. The coins are Egyptian, bearing the imperial tughra of Abdul Majid (Ottoman Sultan, 1839-61) and date from 1277 A.H. (1860-61). Although thought at one stage to have been made up in Sri Lanka, it is possible that the whole necklace was made in Egypt. For an Egyptian 19th-century necklace with similar motifs, see Bury, S., 'Jewellery 1789-1910: The International Era' (details under References).

Given by H. M. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851.

R.P. 1920-8261, 1915-463M and 1918-1736
Production
Recorded as from Sri Lanka and acquired with other material from there. The silver-gilt coins are from Egypt 1277A.H. (1860-61).
Bibliographic references
  • Indian Jewellery: The V&A Collection London: V&A Publishing, 2008 Number: ISBN 9781851774838 p. 14, pl. 1.4
  • Bury, S., 'Jewellery 1789-1910: The International Era', vol.II. Woodbridge: the Antique Collectors' Club, 1991. ISBN 185149149X. Plate 257B, p.485.
Collection
Accession number
IM.473-1920

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Record createdDecember 1, 2005
Record URL
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