Crown thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Crown

20th century (made)
Place of origin

Three silver plaques, hinged together wth a pair of loops at each end, one of which is threaded with a purple cord and purple tassels bound in gold and green thread. The rectangular plaques have pointed arches at the top with solid pointed finials soldered with straps on the backs. Each plaque has repoussé decoration with a floral and foliated border framing three different Hindu deities seated on low polygonal rugs or cushions with tasseled corners. The right hand one depicts Shiva with two arms holding a damaru drum and a trident with the head of the goddess Ganga bound in his coiled hair. A tiger's head representing his vehicle is clasped between the heels of his feet and a snake is wrapped round his neck. In the central plaque there is a representation of a four-armed Ganesh holding sweetmeats , (laddus) ; a goad ; a lotus bud and his broken tusk, one in each of his hands. The third deity in the left hand plaque shows the four-headed god Brahma with his four hands holding two books probably representing the Vedas and two lotus blossoms.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
silver, repoussage
Brief description
Silver crown, umlakh, for a groom on his wedding day, Himachal Pradesh or Punjab
Physical description
Three silver plaques, hinged together wth a pair of loops at each end, one of which is threaded with a purple cord and purple tassels bound in gold and green thread. The rectangular plaques have pointed arches at the top with solid pointed finials soldered with straps on the backs. Each plaque has repoussé decoration with a floral and foliated border framing three different Hindu deities seated on low polygonal rugs or cushions with tasseled corners. The right hand one depicts Shiva with two arms holding a damaru drum and a trident with the head of the goddess Ganga bound in his coiled hair. A tiger's head representing his vehicle is clasped between the heels of his feet and a snake is wrapped round his neck. In the central plaque there is a representation of a four-armed Ganesh holding sweetmeats , (laddus) ; a goad ; a lotus bud and his broken tusk, one in each of his hands. The third deity in the left hand plaque shows the four-headed god Brahma with his four hands holding two books probably representing the Vedas and two lotus blossoms.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14cm
  • Width: 26cm (without cords)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. Ganguly
Object history
This crown is part of the large donation of Indian folk jewellery from Dr Waltraud Ganguly which was collected over the last few decades before her death in 2015 from dealers in both India and Europe, in parallel with extensive fieldwork she carried out in the Indian Sub-Continent. It was shown at the exhibition in the Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau, Germany, 18 October 2013 - 18 January 2014. She bought it from an Afghan in the 1980s.
Historical context
Untracht illustrates a five-plaque crown and describes how these crowns were worn tied onto the head of bridegrooms during their wedding ceremony. He states that they were rented from their owners who were typically bankers or money lenders or goldsmiths. The gods depicted on them are considered auspicious.
Bibliographic references
  • Traditional jewelry of India / Oppi Untracht. London: Thames and Hudson Limited London, 1997 Number: 0500017808 p. 166, fig.300
  • Indian folk jewellery : designs and techniques / Waltraud Ganguly. Number: 9789350502129, 9350502127 p.37
  • Indian folk jewellery : designs and techniques / Waltraud Ganguly. Number: 9789350502129, 9350502127 p.37
Collection
Accession number
IS.201-2019

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Record createdApril 29, 2015
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