Back to Search

Belt clasp

Title	Belt clasp
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	1860
Publication Place	syria (made) -
Subject	Jewellery Metalwork Islam
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	1546-1873
Record ID	1546-1873
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1860
Notes	This clasp was bought by the Museum at the International Exhibition, London in 1872 for 16 shillings and 6 pence as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery. Its local name was recorded as â biklet zurar â. Throughout the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, from the Balkans to Syria, large and elaborate waist clasps were the most important item of jewellery in a womanâs dowry. One of the most popular designs was the comma shape used in this example, which derives from an ancient Persian symbol best known today from 19th-century Indian textiles. It would have been worn on a velvet belt. The long pendants hanging down at the front, the rows of applied wire rings, and the blue and red beads are all typical of Syrian traditional jewellery.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Silver plated metal decorated with filigree and set with red, green and turquoise pastes and red and blue glass beads, with gilded metal discs. Plated Paste Glass Filigree
Fiziksel açıklama	Two-part silver-plated metal waist clasp decorated with applied wire rings and red, green and turquoise pastes and imitation coral beads. Each part is comma shaped, with a loop at the side of one part and a corresponding sideways hook on the other to fasten them. There is a filigree dome in the centre of each part, and over the loop of the fastening. There are four loops attached to the lower edge of each part, and one on the central dome. Each of these holds a length of loop-in-loop chain with a scalloped disc in the centre and a pendent triangle, each set with a turquoise or coral paste bead, at the bottom. There are three smaller gilt scalloped discs hanging from the upper edge of each part and from each of the domes, and there is one additional small scalloped gilt disc hanging from the front of each part. There are two commas of sheet metal hanging from the lower edge of the central filigree dome, either side of the loop-in-loop chain pendant. There is a ring attached to the back of each part, and three holes punched in the top, for attachment.

View in source Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum - Ottoman library catalog search

Victoria and Albert Museum

Belt clasp

Author Unknown

Publication Date 1860

Publication Place syria (made) -

Subject Jewellery Metalwork Islam

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 1546-1873

Record ID 1546-1873

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1860

Notes This clasp was bought by the Museum at the International Exhibition, London in 1872 for 16 shillings and 6 pence as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery. Its local name was recorded as â biklet zurar â. Throughout the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, from the Balkans to Syria, large and elaborate waist clasps were the most important item of jewellery in a womanâs dowry. One of the most popular designs was the comma shape used in this example, which derives from an ancient Persian symbol best known today from 19th-century Indian textiles. It would have been worn on a velvet belt. The long pendants hanging down at the front, the rows of applied wire rings, and the blue and red beads are all typical of Syrian traditional jewellery.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Silver plated metal decorated with filigree and set with red, green and turquoise pastes and red and blue glass beads, with gilded metal discs. Plated Paste Glass Filigree

Fiziksel açıklama Two-part silver-plated metal waist clasp decorated with applied wire rings and red, green and turquoise pastes and imitation coral beads. Each part is comma shaped, with a loop at the side of one part and a corresponding sideways hook on the other to fasten them. There is a filigree dome in the centre of each part, and over the loop of the fastening. There are four loops attached to the lower edge of each part, and one on the central dome. Each of these holds a length of loop-in-loop chain with a scalloped disc in the centre and a pendent triangle, each set with a turquoise or coral paste bead, at the bottom. There are three smaller gilt scalloped discs hanging from the upper edge of each part and from each of the domes, and there is one additional small scalloped gilt disc hanging from the front of each part. There are two commas of sheet metal hanging from the lower edge of the central filigree dome, either side of the loop-in-loop chain pendant. There is a ring attached to the back of each part, and three holes punched in the top, for attachment.