Pectoral Ornament

CultureCentral Asia or Iran, Tekke
Titles
  • Pectoral Ornament
Datelate 19th–early 20th century
MediumSilver; fire-gilded and chased, with openwork, decorative wire, perforated terminals, and pendants with cabochon carnelians.
DimensionsAs worn: 17 11/16 × 3 1/8 × 3/8 in. (45 × 8 × 1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Louise Nasr
Object number2023.586
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
112M Islamic Art Gallery
On view

Explore Further

DescriptionThis pectoral ornament with a lozenge form and a gilded and chased floral design would have been worn on the chest, sewn on or
attached to clothing with chains. Turkmen jewelry cleverly balances a striking appearance with a graceful effect. The patterns of
curling and scrolling vegetal design and the chains, bells, and pendants are suggestive of movement and musicality. When worn on
top of deeply colored, flowing robes, the swaying of fabric and jewelry as well as the sound of silver upon silver would have imparted further sensory richness and dimension.
Provenance Research Ongoing

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Overall front
20th century (probably)
Silver; with decorative wire, turquoise and coral beads, decorative loop-in-loop chains, embossed pendants, and cabochon carnelians
2023.588
Overall front
mid–late 19th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with decorative wire, chains, openwork, and table-cut carnelians.
2023.585
Overall front
late 19th–early 20th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with table-cut carnelians.
2023.587
Overall front
20th century
Silver with copper inset; fire-gilded, with decorative wire, embossing, stamped beading, turquoise beads, and glass stones
2023.589
Manuscript of a Rubaiyat (Quatrains) of Omar Khayyam
Mir 'Ali Haravi
16th–17th century
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Beaker
13th century
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Covered Container
Johann Brand
c. 1901-1902
Pewter and carnelian glass cabochons
2008.266.A,.B
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9th–10th century
Gold and cabochon cornelians
2004.2252.1,.2
Cover (Bohça)
early 19th century
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Top overall
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18th century
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2022.114
Huqqa Base with Floral Design
mid-17th century
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2019.699