Not on display

Torque

Torque
1860-1872 (made)
Place of origin

A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria.

The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants ending in coins, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. They were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin. This example was bought for the Museum for five shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, 1872 as part of a large quantity of traditional Syrian jewellery. It was described as worn by children.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTorque
Materials and techniques
Silver-plated metal with silver coins
Brief description
Twisted silver-plated torque (Towk) with loops at the two ends and coin pendants, Syria, 1860-1872.
Physical description
A torque of thick twisted silver-plated wire ending in a loop at each end. There is a thinner strand of twisted wire wrapped between the twists of the main wire. There are six loops attached at the front, three at each side, from each of which hangs a length of loop-in-loop chain with a slightly concave coin at the end, and a smaller coin in the centre. The ends of the torque are linked by a figure-of-eight fastener which also has a length of chain with two coins hanging from it.
DimensionsWidth of torque 12.7 cm Length of longest pendant 21.2 cm
Marks and inscriptions


Note
Inscription; decoration; Arabic; on suspended discs
Summary
A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria.

The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants ending in coins, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. They were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin. This example was bought for the Museum for five shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, 1872 as part of a large quantity of traditional Syrian jewellery. It was described as worn by children.
Collection
Accession number
1534-1873

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Record createdApril 8, 2003
Record URL
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