Western Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia), Turkoman (Turkmen) people, ca. 19th century CE. A sumptuous gilded silver bridal adornment with 14 inlaid pieces of fiery-colored agate. Nine dangling silver chains and pendants hang from the bottom, with four inlaid pieces of again on the long, flat pendants. The main part of the adornment is incised with floral motifs and also features rope-like decorations around its middle. Three loops on the back and a hollow central tube allowed this heavy ornament to be sewn onto clothing. It likely once decorated a woven textile cap to form a crown, with the dangling parts made to hang over the eyes. Size: 5.75" W x 8.9" H (14.6 cm x 22.6 cm); 163.2 grams
Fabulous jewelry like this was a hallmark of elite men and women in the Turkoman society. Powerful people wore the items they commissioned or gave them as diplomatic gifts to rulers and elites in other countries as a way of showcasing the wealth of their own region. Jewelers worked on commissions from the richest members of society, obtaining precious metal from various mountains in the area, including Ferghana and the Zartalash east of Tashkent. Jewelers worked with a variety of different precious and semi-precious stones, also sourced from far afield. Artisans in cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent kept alive metalworking traditions once common in the medieval period long after Europeans lost them.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Beverly Hills, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#141179
Condition
Beautiful condition with much of the gilding remaining. One of the dangling chains has lost its pendant. Another pendant seems contemporary with the piece but is clearly made of a different alloy, with a higher copper percentage and subsequently different patina, than the others. Faint patina on surface.