Hair Ornament, One of a Pair

Unknown

12th–13th century · Gold; cast, fabricated, engraved, with a copper alloy inner sleeve, decorated with twisted wire and granulation · Islamic Art

Tubular hair ornaments have a deep history in the region of Iran and Central Asia, dating to pre-Islamic times. Worn around a thick lock of hair, this ornament would have created a striking image, especially with a brightly colored cloth slipped between the copper alloy core and the gold of the exterior, where it would have peeked through the geometric patterning of gold wire and granulation.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th–13th century

Medium

Gold; cast, fabricated, engraved, with a copper alloy inner sleeve, decorated with twisted wire and granulation

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1952