Marriage necklace (kazhutthuru)
Necklace
late 19th century or early 20th century (made)
late 19th century or early 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This superb ceremonial necklace incorporates a gold pendant or 'tali' symbolising marriage, and was probably made for a bride from the Nattukottai Chettiar community in South India. It would not have been used for everyday wear. It has an imposing pendant adorned with images of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, seated on Nandi, the sacred bull, before a temple. The small figures are very skilfully worked in gold repoussé, an important technique in South Indian jewellery. The repoussé work is pierced in places to show the gleam of red foil backing. Above these figures is a contrasting flat panel of delicate tracery showing a deer between two birds of paradise.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Marriage necklace (kazhutthuru) (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Gold, black thread and red foil |
Brief description | Marriage necklace, gold, Tamil Nadu, South India, late nineteenth century or early twentieth century |
Physical description | A marriage necklace (kazhutthuru). Large gold beads and pendant on black thread, the gold worked in repoussé and pierced, with red foil (red vanish on copper sheet) on the pendant behind the pieced gold work on the central panel and a sheet of patinated copper behind the pieced figures of birds and antelope; the pendant filled with lac. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label |
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Production | Probably made for the Nattukottai Chettiar community, Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This superb ceremonial necklace incorporates a gold pendant or 'tali' symbolising marriage, and was probably made for a bride from the Nattukottai Chettiar community in South India. It would not have been used for everyday wear. It has an imposing pendant adorned with images of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, seated on Nandi, the sacred bull, before a temple. The small figures are very skilfully worked in gold repoussé, an important technique in South Indian jewellery. The repoussé work is pierced in places to show the gleam of red foil backing. Above these figures is a contrasting flat panel of delicate tracery showing a deer between two birds of paradise. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | IS.90-1987 |
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Record created | February 27, 2004 |
Record URL |
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