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Source Description
The three-part pin decorated the front of a Muslim man's turban. Mimicking feathers, the gilt coiled wires, once topped with pearls, would have waved with movement. The ornament is decorated with red stones. Are the gem stones rubies, garnets or glass? All the red stones are rubies, except one triangular stone at the base of the pin above the two prongs. Probably a replacement, the triangular stone does not fluoresce and was determined to be glass based on its composition, hardness and inclusions. The rubies or spinels fluoresce bright pink under UV light. Visually their color is further heightened by silver foil coated with a bright pink pigment or dye that is positioned behind the stones. The foil with traces of pink is visible where a ruby has been lost.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
95131
label
Finial from a Turban Ornament
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
95131
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Finial from a Turban Ornament
description
The three-part pin decorated the front of a Muslim man's turban. Mimicking feathers, the gilt coiled wires, once topped with pearls, would have waved with movement. The ornament is decorated with red stones. Are the gem stones rubies, garnets or glass? All the red stones are rubies, except one triangular stone at the base of the pin above the two prongs. Probably a replacement, the triangular stone does not fluoresce and was determined to be glass based on its composition, hardness and inclusions. The rubies or spinels fluoresce bright pink under UV light. Visually their color is further heightened by silver foil coated with a bright pink pigment or dye that is positioned behind the stones. The foil with traces of pink is visible where a ruby has been lost.
provenance
Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1912, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
early 19th century
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
ornaments
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
13.7
height
7.4
depth
6
dimensionsRaw
Finial H: 5 3/8 × W: 2 15/16 × D: 2 3/8 in. (13.7 × 7.4 × 6 cm)
Source extras
cul
Islamic
med
gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies or spinels
creator_ids
3496
collection_ids
ISL
JWL
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
0c5ae76443dc34f2