"Treasury of the World": Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals

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Small bottle, ca. first third 17th century
Probably northern India
Fabricated from gold; worked in kundan technique and set with rubies, emeralds, and natural diamond crystals; H. (including cap) 1 7/8 in. (4.6 cm), W. 1 5/8 in. (4 cm), Thickness 3/4 in. (1.7 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Pendant, first half 17th century
India, Deccan, or Mughal
Fabricated from gold; worked in kundan technique and set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds; with pendant emerald bead; H. (excluding pendant emerald) 1 7/8 in. (4.6 cm), H. (including pendant emerald) 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm), W. 1 5/8 in. (3.9 cm), Thickness (excluding pendant emerald) 1/32 in. (.8 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Turban ornament, probably second half 17th century
India, probably Deccan (Hyderabad?)
Fabricated from gold; with champlevé and overpainted enamels; worked in kundan technique and set with emeralds and diamonds; H. 6 7/8 in. (17.3 cm), W. 2 1/8 in. (5.3 cm), Thickness (including plume holder) 5/8 in. (1.3 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum
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Dagger hilt, later 16th–first decade 17th century (with later alterations and additions)
India, Mughal
Carved from rock crystal; inlaid with gold in kundan technique and set with rubies, emeralds, and banded agate; L. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm), W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Cup, later 16th–early 17th century
India, Deccan, or Mughal
Carved from rock crystal; inlaid with gold in kundan technique and set with rubies, emeralds, and dark sapphire-blue glass; the stones underlain (toward the interior) with painted miniature faces and with kingfisher feathers; H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm), Diam. 3 3/8 in. (8.5 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum
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Box, later 16th–early 17th century
India, Deccan, or Mughal
Carved from rock crystal; inlaid with gold in kundan technique and set with rubies and emeralds; the interior fabricated from gold and silver; H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm), Diam. 2 in. (5.1 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Locket from the scabbard of a Katar dagger, ca. 1615–20
India, Mughal
Fabricated from gold; worked in kundan technique, set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, engraved and chiseled; H. 2 1/4 in. (5.6 cm), W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Dagger and scabbard, ca. 1615–20
India, Mughal
Blade of jawhar steel (later repolished), hatched and overlaid with gold; iron hilt, as well as locket, chape, and front of scabbard, overlaid with gold, worked in kundan technique, set with precious stones, engraved and chiseled; scabbard wood covered on the back with gold sheet hammered in relief; hilt and scabbard set with a total of 1,685 rubies, 271 natural unpolished diamonds, 62 emeralds, 321 pieces of transparent emerald-green glass, 39 pieces of transparent dark middle blue glass, nine pieces of ivory and six layered agates (grand total of 2.393 "stones," to which another 26, now missing, must be added, for an original total of 2,419); L. (of dagger) 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm), L. (in scabbard) 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm), W. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Archery ring, 16th–early 17th century
India, probably Deccan (perhaps Bidar)
Fabricated from gold; champlevé-enameled (encrusted), set in kundan technique with rubies and turquoises; H. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm), L. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm), W. 1 1/4 in. (3.1 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Lidded cup and saucer, probably ca. mid-17th century
India, Deccan, or Mughal
Fabricated from gold, with champlevé and painted enamels; H. (of assembled pieces) 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm), H. (of lidded cup) 2 7/8 in. (7.2 cm), Diam. (of lidded cup) 2 7/8 in. (7.2 cm), H. of saucer 5/8 in. (1.3 cm), Diam. (of saucer) 5 1/8 in. (12.9 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum
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Horse strap fitting, ca. second–third quarter 17th century
India, probably Deccan
Steel, overlaid with two colors of gold; Diam. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm), Thickness 1/2 in. (1 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Spittoon, 17th century
India, Mughal, or Deccan
Carved from nephrite jade (middle light green, with some black flecks); H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm), L. (including handle) 4 1/4 in. (10.7 cm), W. 3 1/4 in. (8 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Pendant, later 16th–first quarter 17th century
India, probably Deccan
Fabricated from gold, front, head, and neck worked in kundan technique and set with rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and rock crystal; back engraved and inlaid with niello; with pendant pearls; H. (excluding pendant elements) 3 in. (7.6 cm), W. 2 1/4 in. (5.5 cm), Thickness 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Bored emerald, ca. fourth decade 17th century
India, probably Mughal
Carved from emerald (light green of great cleanness and "water," slight bluish undertone), drilled; H. 1 1/2 in. (3.7 cm), W. 1 3/8 in. (3.3 cm), Thickness 1/2 in. (1.2 cm), Wt. 110.1 carats
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Pendant with cameo portrait of the emperor Shah Jahan, ca. sixth decade 17th century; back Deccan (Hyderabad), 19th century
India: front Mughal
Original part fabricated from gold, set in technique with rubies and a cameo (layered agate, pinkish tan/white); the back fabricated from silver, engraved and inlaid with niello; H. (including loop) 1 1/2 in. (3.7 cm), Diam. 1 3/8 in. (3.3 cm), Thickness 1/32 in. (.8 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Pendant, ca. third–fifth decade 17th century
India, Deccan, or Mughal
Fabricated from gold; with champlevé enamels; worked in kundan technique and set with rubies and emeralds; with pendant emerald bead; H. (excluding pendant emerald) 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm), H. (including pendant emerald) 2 1/4 in. (5.5 cm), W. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm), Thickness 1/32 in. (.7 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum

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Locket pendant, ca. fourth–fifth decade 17th century
India, probably Deccan
Fabricated from gold, champlevé-enameled, worked in kundan technique and set with rubies and emeralds; with miniature portrait by William Egley dated 1832, painted on ivory covered with thin glass and fitted on a gold Medallion; H. (of locket including bail) 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm), H. (excluding bail, hinge, and clasp) 2 1/2 in. (6.2 cm), W. 2 in. (4.9 cm), Thickness 1/2 in. (1.1 cm), Diam. (of medallion) 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum