Book Cover
c.1880 (made)
| Place of origin |
This book cover was made in India in the 19th century and was acquired by Mr. Arthur Wells, a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest. The stones were identified by Peter Wates, former head of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Agate, bloodstone, jasper, moss agate and silver. Made using a wide range of techniques. |
| Brief description | Book or album cover, hinged, silver, repousse and chased, set with a variety of large, cut and polished agates and jaspers, India, c.1880 |
| Physical description | A hinged book cover fashioned in silver, with repousse and chased flower and leaf decoration and it has been set with numerous medium to large, cut and polished agate and jasper plaques and shallow cabochons. The cover can be secured using two hook and eye latches. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Wells Bequest |
| Object history | This book cover was made in India in the 19th century and was acquired by Mr. Arthur Wells, a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest. The stones were identified by Peter Wates, former head of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. |
| Summary | This book cover was made in India in the 19th century and was acquired by Mr. Arthur Wells, a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest. The stones were identified by Peter Wates, former head of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1543-1882 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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