Central Asia, India, Mughal Empire, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. Wow! A trio of ornate 77% gold (equivalent to 18K+) openwork pendants, each studded with nine cut precious stones - including pearls, emeralds, rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and tourmalines. Each inlaid stone is encircled by granulations, highlighting the incredible skill and delicacy of Mughal artisans. The pendants are strung with over 100 modern disc-shaped ruby beads, six emerald beads of the same shape, and about a dozen gold seed beads to make a wonderfully wearable piece of antique jewelry. Size of pendant: 0.45" W (1.1 cm); chain is: 22" L (55.9 cm); pendant is: 77% gold (equivalent to 18K+)
Mughal elites adored precious stones, not just for their beauty, but also for protective and magical properties that they believed each stone had. Their incredible jewelry is part of a long tradition that came to its height with the Mughals. When they conquered India from Central Asia, they brought the technical skills to set gems with them. In order to enforce their high social status, the Mughals passed Sumptuary Laws that decreed only members of the upper class could wear jewelry like this necklace.
Provenance: ex-private Houston, Texas, USA collection, acquired around 2013
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#151201
Condition
Pendants are antique; all other beads and clasp are modern. The pendants are in beautiful condition with a few tiny scratches on the stones and one of the stones on one pendant lost.