Pendant
ca.1610-20 (made)
| Place of origin |
This amulet would have been the central pendant of a necklace and there is a hole along the top edge to accommodate the thread or chain. The ancient form probably derives from arrowhead-shaped pendants which were believed to confer protection on the wearer. This example has very intricate details and the eyes of the birds are tiny emeralds set in gold. It is made with the 'kundan' technique of setting precious stones into jade and other materials with tiny strips of extremely highly refined gold. The back of the pendant is inscribed with a verse from the Koran. The very high quality of the gemstones and craftsmanship suggest that it was made within the Mughal court workshops, and the style of the palmettes date it to the early 17th century. It was conceivably made for the emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) as the design includes a pair of hoopoes, the birds associated with Solomon (Suleyman), with whom the Mughal emperors were often compared in eulogistic poems or in architectural inscriptions..
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | White nephrite jade, set with rubies and emeralds in gold using the kundan technique. |
| Brief description | Jewelled jade pendant, Mughal court, c. 1610-20 |
| Physical description | Pendant of white nephrite jade set with rubies and emeralds in gold, and with a pendent emerald bead. The top edge has been bored to accommodate the thread or chain. The pendant is inscribed on the back with a Koranic verse. The precious stones are set into a scrolling design with a large central palmette, with a hoopoe on either side of it, a bird in flight above, and a bird seemingly on firm ground below. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | From the collection of Col. Charles Seton Guthrie and bought by the Indian Museum in Leadenhall Street, London, in 1868. Transferred in 1879 from the India Museum to the collections of the South Kensington Museum, which later became the Victoria & Albert Museum. |
| Summary | This amulet would have been the central pendant of a necklace and there is a hole along the top edge to accommodate the thread or chain. The ancient form probably derives from arrowhead-shaped pendants which were believed to confer protection on the wearer. This example has very intricate details and the eyes of the birds are tiny emeralds set in gold. It is made with the 'kundan' technique of setting precious stones into jade and other materials with tiny strips of extremely highly refined gold. The back of the pendant is inscribed with a verse from the Koran. The very high quality of the gemstones and craftsmanship suggest that it was made within the Mughal court workshops, and the style of the palmettes date it to the early 17th century. It was conceivably made for the emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) as the design includes a pair of hoopoes, the birds associated with Solomon (Suleyman), with whom the Mughal emperors were often compared in eulogistic poems or in architectural inscriptions.. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 02535(IS) |
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| Record created | March 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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