Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1860
Publication Place
Lebanon (made) -
Subject
Jewellery Metalwork
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Width of torque 11 cm Length of chain (maximum) 11.4 cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
84-1873
Record ID
84-1873
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 They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times.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, is typical of those made in Syria and Iraq. The pendants usually end in coins, but this example has discs of filigree in an unusual swirling pattern. Torques were mainly worn by the nomadic Bedouin.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Silver and silver filigree Silver Granulation Filigree
Fiziksel açıklama
A torque of thick twisted silver 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 four loops attached at the front, two at each side, from each of which hangs a length of loop-in-loop chain. There is a flat comma-shaped pendant at the top and centre of each chain, and a disc of open filigree in a swirling pattern at the end. The ends of the torque are linked by a figure-of-eight fastener which has a similar chain hanging from it.
