Hair Ornament, One of a Pair

Pair of Gold Hair Ornaments with Bronze Core: 52.32.9 and 52.32.10

The geometric design on these two hair ornaments, as well as its mode of execution, is identical to that on MMA no. 1976.405, suggesting that they date to the same period, if not to the same workshop.[1] There was originally, between the bronze core and the gold exterior of each ornament, a piece of textile that was probably brightly colored.

These textiles, like the semiprecious stones on hair ornament MMA no. 1979.95, must have further enhanced the effect of these striking pieces when they were worn around a long, thick lock of hair. More subtle in decoration than either no. 1979.95 or the present pair is another pair in the Metropolitan's collection (MMA 1980.541.4, .5) that bears in the center of each element a repousse design of an Arabic inscription in Naskhi script reading "Glory and Prosperity ... ", bordered by lappets.

[Jenkins and Keene 1983]

Footnotes:

1. See also L'lslam dans les collections nationales, exhibition catalogue. Grand Palais, Paris, 1977, no. 360.

Majid and Feraidoon Movaghar, Tehran and New York (until 1952; sold to MMA)

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Islamic Jewelry in The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 22–August 14, 1983, no. 32.

New York. The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Nature of Islamic Ornament Part III: Geometric Patterns," March 17–July 18, 1999, no catalogue.

New York. Forbes Galleries. "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Jeweled Objects from the Cradle of Civilization," September 22, 2008–December 31, 2008, p. 116.

Chicago. Field Museum of Natural History. "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Jeweled Objects from the Cradle of Civilization," February 13, 2009–June 14, 2009, p. 116.

Paris. Institut du Monde Arabe. "Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry: Exquisite Jeweled Objects from the Cradle of Civilization," April 19, 2010–July 25, 2010, p. 116.

Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn, and Manuel Keene. Islamic Jewelry in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, 1983. no. 32, p. 63, ill. (b/w).

Price, Judith. "Exquisite Objects from the Cradle of Civilization." In Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry. Philadelphia; London, 2008. p. 116, ill. (color).