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Jewelry from Gandhara / Taxila – a catalog

Bracelet, 1st Century BCE, from Taxila 
W: 6.2 cm, Diam: 5.2 cm
“The gold bracelet with a decoration depicting rows of flat ‘S’ shaped pieces cut out from thick sheet gold within a plaited-chain border.”

According to the museum description – Indian artist, Harappan style.

More >> Private: Syria – Taxila – Kerch, bracelets https://colorsandstones.eu

Gold bangle; 1st cent. BCE
Dimensions 5 X 4.2 cm
“The bracelet with double ‘S’ repeat design cut from thick sheet gold with a beaded border on either side. The square hinged clasp with a circular hollow in the middle that must have held a gem, now missing and surrounded with leaf.”

Bracelet, 1st Century BCE, From Taxila 
W: 6.5 Dia: 5.4 cm
“The gold bracelet with a square clasp, the broad sheet gold with a pattern of leaves and granules enclosed within a plaited chain border. The clasp decorated with hollow circular forms some set with crescent and round motifs in the four corners. The hinge and clasp formed of beaded tubing.”

1st Century BCE, from Sirkap, Taxila (National Museum, Delhi)
https://twitter.com/IndiaHistorypic

Jewelry from the ancient city of Taxila in the National Museum, New Delhi source
https://artsandculture.google.com

A necklace of gold, strung with pendants of alternating design. It is inlaid with crystal quartz, agate and shell. This necklace was found in an earthen pot.

“The gold necklace of eleven pendants with ten spacer beads and one terminal. The design of one pendant consists of an oval cabochon crystal set within a beaded surround enclosed by two repoussé worked dolphins face-to-face from the tails of which hang three plaited chains ending in flat gold disks. At the top is attached a spherical bead the surface fully decorated with micro-granules. The other pendant is of quatrefoil design with seven cloisonné inlaid with white orthoclase feldspar and three chains with flat gold disks hanging below; the bead on top of this pendant is plain. The spacer beads between each pendant are of openwork design of circles inlaid with white orthoclase feldspar and studded with granules. The terminal is in the form of an animal face inlaid with orthoclase feldspar and black agate outlined with granulated beading. While the necklace was strung through the beads, there is also a series of gold tubes at the back for another cord to pass through.” NMND

Necklace from the 1st century Taxila, Sirkap
Gold, turquoise, garnet
13.5 X 3.2 cm


“A necklace of gold strung with pendants of alternating design and an end piece. One pendant centering on a flat disc set with a garnet in the center surrounded with a beaded rim surmounted with a bead covered with micro granules and an attachment below decorated with triple cluster of granules in the middle.”

Alamkara, the beauty of ornament / text & research, Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan, 2015
https://www.exoticindiaart.com

Necklace from the 1st century Taxila, Sirkap
Gold, turquoise, garnet
National Museum, New Delhi
Acc. no. 49.262/6

A Jewelled Splendour: The Tradition of Indian Jewellery, Asharani Mathur
https://books.google.pl

“The necklace or amulet with a center piece in the form of a hollow gold bead surmounted with a palmette worked in repousse”
Taxila, 100 CE
Dimensions 10.7 cm

49.262/44
49.262/17
Bhir Mound, Taxila, 300 BCE

Gold Waist Girdle shaped like fish, 1st Century BCE, from Sirkap, Taxila. 13.7 x 3 cm
National Museum, New Delhi 49.262/14

“The pieces might have been part of a waist girdle comprising three horizontal rows of four fishes made of thin sheet gold stamped with a design of fish scales. Holes are pierced in their mouth and tails for the cords to pass through.”

1st cent. CE, Sirkap, Taxila
Dimensions Dia: 14 cm
“The hollow gold torque of beaten sheet gold over a lac core with trumpet-shaped ends in front. Formed of two semi circles increasing in diameter towards the end is united at the narrow ends by tenon-and-socket hinge and a (push) fastener at the trumpet-shaped ends.”

49.262/35

c. 300 BCE, Bhir Mound, Taxila
Dimensions Dia: 14 cm
“The tubular gold armlet or bangle terminating in lion’ s heads is made of thin sheet gold filled with lac. The lions heads are made separately with fine details in repousse”

Gold Finger Ring, 100 CE, from Sirkap, Taxila.
National Museum, New Delhi
https://museumsofindia.gov.in/repository/record/nat_del-49-262-37-10493

Ring with bust figure holding a wine cup, gold, inset with a semi-precious stone. Bezel 2.9 x 2.5 cm
Gandhara, 1st century

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39322
Hinged Armlet, 1st century
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39415
Pair of Ear Plugs with Hamsas (Wild Geese), 1st century
diam. 2.7 cm

Gold hairpin, 1st cent. BCE
Dimensions L 11.1 cm x Dia 1.7 cm
“The hair pin of gold with flat wheel head decorated on both sides with a five-petalled flower inlaid and encircled by two rows of gold beading.”

(c)Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Gold, 1st-2nd century, Taxila. Possibly a part of a hairpin.

“The figure stands on a lotus pedestal, holding the mirror in her left hand. A small figure of a woman swathed in a sari which clings closely at her breasts.”

(c)Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(c)Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Gandhara 2nd century; 4.2 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm max
[Parthian type]

2nd – 1st century BCE, Gandhara / Bactria
Gold, lapis lazuli, ivory and quartz; length 4.1 and 4.5 cm.
[Greek / Hellenistic. The earrings look like to be composed of several items, such as earrings and a necklace.]


“The ‘leech-and-pendant’ type earrings combines sheet gold and granulation.
Of crescent or ‘leech’ form the term derived from the insect of similar shape – the piece is hollow, with an inverted bud-shaped pendant suspended from it attached to a moveable ring embossed with gold granules. The clasp in the form of a double-leech pattern ornamented with decorative details. The pendent drops are covered with fine granulation with clusters of gold granules at the end. The hollow crescent forms are filled with a solid lac or pitch.”
“The earrings combines sheet gold and granulation of crescent form; the piece is hollow, with an inverted bud-shaped pendant suspended from it. This is attached to a moveable ring embossed with gold granules. The clasp in the form of a double- crescent pattern ornamented with decorative details. The pendent drops are covered with fine granulation with clusters of gold granules at the end. The hollow crescent forms are filled with a solid lac or pitch.”

National Museum, New Delhi 49.262/52

Gold earrings, Sirkap, Taxila, 1st century
(a): 2.1 X 2.4 cm (b): 2.1 X 2.4 cm
“The earrings of heart-shape fashioned from hollow sheet gold with a pivot hinge on top of one and cluster of granules at the base.”


To compare

ACSYA on Twitter: „[Pictured] Excavated in Nineveh, the following gold earring was exquisitely crafted to resemble grape clusters. Dated to approximately the second-century AD, similar earrings such as these can also be found at Hatra and Aššur where a thriving ethnic Assyrian population flourished” https://pl.pinterest.com

Parthian style gold ear-pendant, from Sirkap, Taxila, 1st Century BCE [Marshal excavation]

Beaded wire disc pendants, gold
Gandhara, 1st century [Buddhist Jewels]
Pair of gold earrings with tortoises
Pakistan, Taxila region (?), 1st-2nd century
Los Angeles County Museum of Art [record]
Obrazek posiada pusty atrybut alt; plik o nazwie image-4.png

A gold pendant, 4×3.5 cm, the lunula inlaid with carnelian, the repousse bust is thought to be an image of Demeter.
It is said to be from Sardhderai, District Charsadda, Pakistan. Modern town of Charsadda was the capital of ancient Gandhara.

[A Note on Some Cultural Objects from District Charsadda]

Find Place Bhir Mound, Taxila
Period / Year of Work C. 300 BCE
Dimensions Dia: 3.7 cm
“Flat gold disc of crescent shape pierced on the upper two ends, the surface along the outline with two rows of gold dots worked in repousse”

National Museum, New Delhi 49.262/11
Find Place Sirkap, Taxila
Period / Year of Work c.1st cent. BCE
Dimensions L 5.9 X Diam: 3 cm

“The gold disc-and-pendant ear jewel is in the form of a flat disc adorned in the center with a flower in full bloom. The inner row of petals is plain while the outer petals of triangular form are decorated with embossed granules. Between these petals are globules of gold. Around the flower are concentric bands of wire enclosing a row of ‘S’ shaped wires, two rows of plaited wire and a rim of twisted wire. From the bottom are suspended plaited chains and at the top is a flat loop behind”

Earring with beech-nut pendants, Sirkap, 1st century CE
[After Yan Liu, Jianjun Yu, Junchang Yang, Wenying Li]
https://www.sixbid.com

“Greek Hellenistic Gold Filigree Earrings. 2nd century BC-1st century AD. A matched pair of gold earrings, each a hoop attached to a rosette with granule detailing, pendant amphora with dolphin handles, granule cluster and four dangles with pearl bed finials. 7.99 grams total, 34mm (1 1/4″). Property of a Mayfair gentleman; collected from 1966-2017.”

a) Earring with beech-nut pendants, Taxila, National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi, Photography by Christian Luczanits
(b) Earring with beech-nut pendants, Sirkap, 1st century CE. After Krishnan & Kumar 2001:68, Fig.79;
(c) Earring from the Troy Treasure, Mesopotamia. 2200 BCE. After Schadt 1997:14, fig.13;
(d) Gold earrings from northeast Aegean, 2400 BCE. After Quick 2004:132, fig.120
[After Yan Liu, Jianjun Yu, Junchang Yang, Wenying Li]

Ear pendant with riders. Sirkap, Taxila, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 1st century CE. Gold and turquoise. H. 10.9 cm. National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi, 50.81

Earring, amphora with dolphin handles, green and red glass, and a rosette, Graeco-Bactrian
 © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
L: 4,25 cm

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/87671
И.П. Засецкая
Сарматы в Северном Причерноморье.
// Сокровища сарматов. Каталог выставки. СПб; Азов: 2008. С. 4-11
https://www.bonhams.com

“A GOLD HAIR ORNAMENT
Ancient Region of Gandhara, 1st century.
Rosette form with granulation on the pointed outer petals around natural rounded inner petals and an inset garnet, the whole supported by a twisted wire frame with beaded rosettes at the corners.
1.5 cm diameter

Provenance:
Private American Collection”

(c)Victoria and Albert Museum, London

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17694/earring/earring-unknown/
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24944/jewellery-sculpture/

Kushan Empire, 1st to 3rd centuries / Excavated from Gandhara, Pakistan.
Yamanashi, Ikuo Hirayama Collection of Silk Road Museum

A beautiful gold accessory made in Gandhara influenced by Greek culture.

https://www.tnm.jp


To compare:

Pendant and earrings from the Kushan Empire.

Gold pendants with inlays from the tombs of southern Tajikistan. After Francfort, H.-P.
Gold and beryl earring
2nd–1st century CE, Cypriot
https://www.metmuseum.org

“Winged Aphrodite”
Gold ornament,
1st century Gandhara
National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi

To compare

the 1st century ornaments from Tillya Tepe, Afganistan:
https://colorsandstones.eu/2022/04/25/gandhara-tillya-tepe/


Ornaments excavated from Charsadda [the capital of ancient Gandhara, Pakistan] source

To compare

Hellenistic / Roman Imperial Egypt
Pendants of a necklace; made of a thin gold sheet.

Louvre, Bj 684

Demeter
H: 1.95 cm

Louvre, Bj 693

Horus? Osiris?
H: 1.7 cm

Louvre, Bj 692

Pluto? Serapis?
H: 2.65 cm

Gold ornament (brooch?) with an image of Eros and Psyche. H: 4.5 cm
Pakistan, Taxila; Sirkap, block D’, level III

Karachi, National Museum of Pakistan
In. no. SK/29-1241/1

After Pierre Cambon, Pakistan

Repoussé plaque with a standing female figure, from a stupa at Lauriya Nandangarh, North India.
Ca. third to second century BCE. Gold; H. 3.26 cm, W. 2.08 cm. Indian Museum, Kolkata, Acc. No. A19746.
Source Naman P Ahuja

An amulet container British museum
Gandhara, 2nd-3rd century; length 8 cm


Swastika (Amulet) Taxila (Sirkap)
1st Century B.C. Gold
the National Museum, Delhi, Acc. No.: 49.262/9 & 49.262/10
[link]

https://museumsofindia.gov.in/repository/record/nat_del-49-262-10-12019

“The swastika motif in these amulets are made in repoussé technique and surrounded by beaded borders. In the center, at the cross of arms, a diamond shaped depression is hollowed out, while the four ends of arms depict heart-shaped depressions. This was originally on a core of lac and has a provision of four copper ring-hooks at the back for convenient attachment.”


LITERATURE

  1. Buddhist Jewels in Mortuary Cult Magic Symbols, Arputharani Sengupta https://www.academia.edu/39589580/Buddhist_Jewels_in_Mortuary_Cult_Magic_Symbols
  2. A Note on Some Cultural Objects from District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mir Muhammad Khan and Asim Amin http://journals.uop.edu.pk
  3. Pakistan. Terre de rencontre Ier-VIe siècle. Les arts du Gandhara; Pierre Cambon
  4. The typology, production and adornment of Gandharan beads during the mid-3rd century BCE – 1st century CE: Preliminary results from Barikot, Swat, Pakistan; Mubariz Ahmed Rabban https://www.sciencedirect.com
  5. Yan Liu, Jianjun Yu, Junchang Yang, Wenying Li, LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD? GOLD BEECH-NUT PENDANTS FOUND IN THE EARLY IRON AGE CHINA AND THE EURASIAN STEPPE http://maajournal.com
  6. A Buddhist Interpretation of Small Finds in the Early Historic Period; Naman P Ahuja
    https://www.academia.edu
  7. Francfort, H.-P., “Sur quelques vestiges et indices nouveaux de l’hellénisme dans les arts entre la Bactriane et le Gandhāra (130 av. J.-C.-100 apr. J.-C. environ)”, Journal des Savants, (janvier-juin), p. 3-114. https://www.academia.edu