Necklace
Necklace
ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The sliding gold chain supports a gold pendant set with rubies, diamonds and pastes (imitation precious stones), which may also be worn as a brooch. The necklace shows obvious European influence in its form and claw-set stones, but the motifs are larger than those of Western models and the gauge of the metal slightly thicker.
The piece was acquired as being from Madras from an unnamed exhibition in 1855 by the Indian Museum. This museum was formed by the East India Company in the early 19th century and housed in the company’s premises in London, before being divided between the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the British Museum in 1879. The necklace was approvingly described at the time as having ‘a very chaste design’.
The piece was acquired as being from Madras from an unnamed exhibition in 1855 by the Indian Museum. This museum was formed by the East India Company in the early 19th century and housed in the company’s premises in London, before being divided between the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the British Museum in 1879. The necklace was approvingly described at the time as having ‘a very chaste design’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Necklace |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved gold, set with rubies, diamonds and pastes |
| Brief description | Necklace, gold set with rubies, diamonds and pastes, Madras, ca. 1850. |
| Physical description | Engraved gold necklace set with rubies, diamonds and pastes. Gold formed in foliate motifs with central white stone/paste, surrounded by diamonds, with two rubies above, and a pale blue stone/paste above. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | The form of the necklace, and the claw setting of the stones of the pendant show obvious European influence, but the motifs are larger and the gauge of the metal thicker. Acquired by the Indian Museum in 1855 from an unnamed exhibition. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The sliding gold chain supports a gold pendant set with rubies, diamonds and pastes (imitation precious stones), which may also be worn as a brooch. The necklace shows obvious European influence in its form and claw-set stones, but the motifs are larger than those of Western models and the gauge of the metal slightly thicker. The piece was acquired as being from Madras from an unnamed exhibition in 1855 by the Indian Museum. This museum was formed by the East India Company in the early 19th century and housed in the company’s premises in London, before being divided between the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the British Museum in 1879. The necklace was approvingly described at the time as having ‘a very chaste design’. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 03314(IS) |
About this object record
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| Record created | December 22, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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