Lot 58B
Western Central Asian (Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia), Turkoman (Turkmen) people, ca. 19th century CE. An absolutely stunning royal crown made of a large, heavy, silver ornament sewn onto a woven textile cap. The silver ornament curves around the front half of the head and towers above it with three triangular attachments. From the browline hang dozens of silver chains with terminal mother of pearl and carnelian decorations; these are made to hang over the eyes. The facing surface of the ornament is almost completely covered in an ornate pattern of inlaid turquoise and glass beads. Triangles, circles, ovals, flowers, arches, and suns are all found on this wide face. In between the inlays are granulated silver lines. The cloth cap is dark red with black, brown, yellow and beige abstract geometric patterns. Made for a larger head. Size of silver ornament with fringe: 2.75" L x 6.5" W x 8.5" H (7 cm x 16.5 cm x 21.6 cm)
Fabulous bejeweled crowns like this example were 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 Salter collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#125661
- Condition: Very light wear and fading from age to textile. Silver crown has slight patina, especially on the hanging fringe. No missing or broken stones/glass/shell.
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| $300 | $999 | $50 |
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| $200,000 + | $25,000 |