Sharaf un-Nisa's cantille cross necklace made of gold, amethyst, and turquoise.
Contents
A pendant in the shape of a cross; it seems to be made of bright yellow gold with distinctive finial decorations. It is embedded with amethysts, turquoise. There is a hinged loop at the top of the crucifix with a round braided circle which seems to be there to allow the crucifix to lie flat upon the chest.
Keywords
Crucifix, cross, cannetille, Georgian, Anglican, Mughal, opulence, 18th century, piety, status, gold, amethyst, turquoise, red spinel, gems,
Object Type
jewelry
Shelfmark
UA SNED7A
Metadata Creators
Munazza Ebtikar, Megan Robb, Michael Goerlitz
Repository City
Philadelphia
Roles
[owner] Elizabeth Sharaf un-Nisa Ducarel
Date
Late 18th century
Place Origin
Most likely Western Europe
Provenance Details
Palmer Family Archive, Devon, England
Language
N/A
Decoration
Four arms laid with amethysts (and possibly red spinel) with turquoise forming the inner section and an amethyst at the center, cross-shaped with ornate gold cannettille decorations
Layout
unstable_archives_item
Hand Script
N/A
Dimensions
2 inches W by 2 inches L
Additional Info
Note comparison Cantille Example from India: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Antique-Victorian-Indian-Mughal-22K-Gold-Turquoise-Drop-Pendant-Necklace-/323792678557; Cannetille style jewelry features fine wire or sheets of gold and silver twisted to intricate designs that display jewels such as amethysts and turquoise. Amethysts have a specific role in the Anglican church as bishops often wear ecclesiastical rings with the stone on it. In Anglo-Saxon and medieval European tradition, these stones were said to have healing and protective powers, and until the 18th century, it formed part of the cardinal, or most precious, gemstones. Turquoise was one if not the most prominent stones used in Persia for centuries for decorative purposes, being brought to India during the reign of the Mughal Empire where it was featured in gold jewelry and often attached with Arabic script.
Notes Digitizer
Photograph both the top and bottom of the gold and jewel pendant.