Description

Antique Dark Green Jade Pendant. Beautifully And Finely Carved With Many Leaves. Good Condition With A Soft Polish And Patina. There Are Holes In The Top For A String To Go Through. Persia (Iran). Very Mughal Style As Well.

Dimensions

2 1/8" Wide x 1 7/8" High

Dating

15th/16th Century

Provenance

A Palm Beach Collection

Notes

A Similar Pendant Was Sold At Christie's London, October 12, 2006 - Sale #4024, Lot 370. The Catalog Description As Follows: A LATE TIMURID OR EARLY SAFAVID SPINACH JADE PENDANT, IRAN, 15TH-16TH CENTURY Of cusped broad drop-shape with upper horizontal suspension bar, one side carved with floral design and central calligraphic panel - 2 7/8 in. (7.5cm) diam. Another Similar Pendant Was Sold At Sotheby's London York, October 8, 2008 - Sale #LO8222, Lot 234. It Realized 32,450 GBP. The Catalog Description As Follows: DESCRIPTION Carved in the form of a palmette with cusped edges incised with an arabesque of scrolling tendrils issuing full and split-palmettes inlaid with red lac. CATALOGUE NOTE The decoration is typical of the Timurid/ early Safavid period and finds many parallels in Herati manuscript illumination and the intricate inlay work of late Timurid metalwork from the reign of Sultan Husayn Bayqara (1470-1506). A portrait of Sultan-Husayn Mirza attributed to Bizhad, circa 1500-1525 in the Arthur M.Sackler Museum, Harvard, displays an almost identical arabesque tracery around the shoulders of his jacket (Lentz and Lowry 1989, p.243, cat. no. 136). Both pendant and portrait display the distinctive unfurling leaves and buds that became part of the decorative vocabularly of the international Timurid style. This style moved westwards as witnessed by the nephrite jade jug in the Topkapi Saray Museum (no.1844), itself a Timurid piece but re-worked with a gold-inlaid inscription bearing a dedication to Shah Isma'il I (1501-24) (see Thompson and Canby 2003, p.2, fig.1.1). Jade (yashm) was prized by the Turkmen tribes for its prophylactic as well as its visual qualities. It was believed to detect poison, cure eye disease and stomach illness, and to protect against natural calamities such as earthquakes and lightning. Its putative magical, talismanic attributes extended to the battle field. According to Al-Biruni: "It is said that jade or one variety of it is called the victory stone and for this reason the Turks decorated their swords, saddles and belts with it, desirous of gaining victory over their contestants and opponents. Others emulate them in this respect by fashioning from it seals and knife handle." (Lentz and Lowry 1989, p.221)

$17,500.00 USD

#DW082637

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