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Lot Essay
A very similar tikka forms part of the Stadholder Jewels given in 1754 to Princess Anna, the regent for the Stadholder William V of Orange (Pauline Lunsingh Scheurleer: "Jewels for the Stadholder", The Jewels of India, Marg, Bombay, 1995, pp.82-98 esp. pls 13a and 13b, p.92). The form of the present example is however clearer, and the detailing finer, which probably indicates an earlier date.
One feature which the present tikka has in common with all the gold stadholder jewellery is the lack of enamel decoration on the reverse. All the pieces in that collection were sent to Holland as "Surat Curiosities", referring to the port in Gujarat. It is very probable that the present example comes from the same workshop in Gujarat.
One feature which the present tikka has in common with all the gold stadholder jewellery is the lack of enamel decoration on the reverse. All the pieces in that collection were sent to Holland as "Surat Curiosities", referring to the port in Gujarat. It is very probable that the present example comes from the same workshop in Gujarat.