Not currently on display at the V&A

Cabochon

c. 1850 (made)
Place of origin

These (primarily) agate plaques and cabochons exhibit a wide range of patterns and were produced in the mid- to late 19th century to be incorporated into jewellery. The cutting and polishing were traditionally achieved using bow-driven, abrasive-charged discs and wheels. It is interesting to note that one of the moss agates exhibits a degree of de-lamination where the moss-like inclusion has forced adjoining layers apart.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Plaque
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
  • Specimen
  • Cabochon
Materials and techniques
Agate, moss agate, agate fossilised wood, cut and polished using abrasives.
Brief description
Collection of specimen cabochons and plaques, agate, moss agate and fossilised wood, India, c. 1850.
Physical description
A collection of oval, low-domed or flat cabochons with nine showing mossy or dendritic patterns and three being banded, one of which being agate fossilised wood, in a range of sizes.
Dimensions
  • Largest stone length: 75.7mm
  • Largest stone width: 62.0mm
  • Largest stone thickness: 3.6mm
  • Smallest stone length: 14.5mm
  • Smallest stone width: 11.7mm
  • Smallest stone thickness: 2.5mm
Object history
Formerly in The India Museum in London and transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879.
Summary
These (primarily) agate plaques and cabochons exhibit a wide range of patterns and were produced in the mid- to late 19th century to be incorporated into jewellery. The cutting and polishing were traditionally achieved using bow-driven, abrasive-charged discs and wheels. It is interesting to note that one of the moss agates exhibits a degree of de-lamination where the moss-like inclusion has forced adjoining layers apart.
Collection
Accession number
08279:1/(IS) to 08279:12/(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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