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Head Ornament

Title	Head Ornament
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	1850
Publication Place	Egypt (made) -
Subject	Jewellery Africa Islam Metalwork
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Length: 6cm, Diameter: 1.8cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	1522-1873
Record ID	1522-1873
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1850
Notes	The 1851 Great Exhibition inspired a series of âLondon International Exhibitionsâ which took place in South Kensington in 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. Fine arts and scientific inventions and discoveries remained central display themes but each exhibition presented different aspects of manufacture. In 1872 one emphasis was on jewellery, including âpeasant jewelleryâ. The Exhibition Commissioners arranged with the South Kensington Museum (later V&A) to make a collection of peasant jewellery from âall parts of the world, which should become public property, for exhibition in the Museum after the close of the Exhibitionâ. A letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to British representatives overseas asking for their help in securing pieces of jewellery, particularly examples with âa direct connection with the native instinctive art, which has been handed down by a long traditionâ. The outcome was considered to be âmost satisfactory â¦ a collection of characteristic ornaments never before equalled was obtainedâ. This forehead ornament is part of this collection. It was used with a face veil or burqu . The Egyptian veil worn by lower class Moslem women at that time consisted of a long rectangle of black cloth, made of an openwork panel of crocheted cotton or pierced crepe, about 15-20 cm wide. It had strings attached at either side of the top edge which were tied at the back of the head. A third string, which ran over the top of the head, was attached to the centre of the top edge to prevent the veil from slipping down. This tube was strung on the centre thread where it joined the veil, over the bridge of the nose. Face veils became unfashionable after Egyptian independence in 1922, and with them these tubes also became obsolete.
Tarihsel bağlam	Its purpose is to hold the strings that are tied at the back of the head to keep the burku' or veil in place, it is worn dangling over the forehead or top of nose,
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Silver gilt wire wrapped round sheet silver Silver-Gilt Filigree
Fiziksel açıklama	Cylinder of gilded sheet silver, open at each end, which is entirely covered with very fine wire wrapped round the outside. The wrapped wire is interrupted in three places by a ring of sheet metal with a serrated edge standing out at right angles to the cylinder. The wrapped wire in the two spaces between the three rings is separated in the centre to leave two bands of plain sheet metal visible.

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Head Ornament

Author Unknown

Publication Date 1850

Publication Place Egypt (made) -

Subject Jewellery Africa Islam Metalwork

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Length: 6cm, Diameter: 1.8cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 1522-1873

Record ID 1522-1873

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1850

Notes The 1851 Great Exhibition inspired a series of âLondon International Exhibitionsâ which took place in South Kensington in 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. Fine arts and scientific inventions and discoveries remained central display themes but each exhibition presented different aspects of manufacture. In 1872 one emphasis was on jewellery, including âpeasant jewelleryâ. The Exhibition Commissioners arranged with the South Kensington Museum (later V&A) to make a collection of peasant jewellery from âall parts of the world, which should become public property, for exhibition in the Museum after the close of the Exhibitionâ. A letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to British representatives overseas asking for their help in securing pieces of jewellery, particularly examples with âa direct connection with the native instinctive art, which has been handed down by a long traditionâ. The outcome was considered to be âmost satisfactory â¦ a collection of characteristic ornaments never before equalled was obtainedâ. This forehead ornament is part of this collection. It was used with a face veil or burqu . The Egyptian veil worn by lower class Moslem women at that time consisted of a long rectangle of black cloth, made of an openwork panel of crocheted cotton or pierced crepe, about 15-20 cm wide. It had strings attached at either side of the top edge which were tied at the back of the head. A third string, which ran over the top of the head, was attached to the centre of the top edge to prevent the veil from slipping down. This tube was strung on the centre thread where it joined the veil, over the bridge of the nose. Face veils became unfashionable after Egyptian independence in 1922, and with them these tubes also became obsolete.

Tarihsel bağlam Its purpose is to hold the strings that are tied at the back of the head to keep the burku' or veil in place, it is worn dangling over the forehead or top of nose,

Malzemeler ve teknikler Silver gilt wire wrapped round sheet silver Silver-Gilt Filigree

Fiziksel açıklama Cylinder of gilded sheet silver, open at each end, which is entirely covered with very fine wire wrapped round the outside. The wrapped wire is interrupted in three places by a ring of sheet metal with a serrated edge standing out at right angles to the cylinder. The wrapped wire in the two spaces between the three rings is separated in the centre to leave two bands of plain sheet metal visible.