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Torque

Title	Torque
Publication Date:	1860
Publication Place	Syria (made) -
Subject	Jewellery Metalwork
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Width of torque 12.7 cm Length of longest pendant 21.2 cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	1534-1873
Record ID	1534-1873
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1860
Notes	A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria. The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants ending in coins, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. They were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin. This example was bought for the Museum for five shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, 1872 as part of a large quantity of traditional Syrian jewellery. It was described as worn by children.
Sample Text	Note Inscription; decoration; Arabic; on suspended discs
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Silver-plated metal with silver coins Silver Plated
Fiziksel açıklama	A torque of thick twisted silver-plated wire ending in a loop at each end. There is a thinner strand of twisted wire wrapped between the twists of the main wire. There are six loops attached at the front, three at each side, from each of which hangs a length of loop-in-loop chain with a slightly concave coin at the end, and a smaller coin in the centre. The ends of the torque are linked by a figure-of-eight fastener which also has a length of chain with two coins hanging from it.

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Torque

Publication Date 1860

Publication Place Syria (made) -

Subject Jewellery Metalwork

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Width of torque 12.7 cm Length of longest pendant 21.2 cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 1534-1873

Record ID 1534-1873

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1860

Notes A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places, including Syria. The design of this torque, with different wires twisted together and linked by a hook at the front, and long chain pendants ending in coins, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. They were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin. This example was bought for the Museum for five shillings and six pence at the International Exhibition, London, 1872 as part of a large quantity of traditional Syrian jewellery. It was described as worn by children.

Sample Text Note Inscription; decoration; Arabic; on suspended discs

Malzemeler ve teknikler Silver-plated metal with silver coins Silver Plated

Fiziksel açıklama A torque of thick twisted silver-plated wire ending in a loop at each end. There is a thinner strand of twisted wire wrapped between the twists of the main wire. There are six loops attached at the front, three at each side, from each of which hangs a length of loop-in-loop chain with a slightly concave coin at the end, and a smaller coin in the centre. The ends of the torque are linked by a figure-of-eight fastener which also has a length of chain with two coins hanging from it.