Unknown
Woman’s Hairpindated 1873

Not on view

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Woman’s Hairpin
Place Made: Sri Lanka
Date Made: dated 1873
Medium: Repoussé gold and gold inlaid with garnets
Dimensions: 6 9/16 x 1 7/8 in. (16.7 x 4.8 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim and the Indian Art Special Purpose Fund
Accession Number: M.83.3.1
Classification: Jewelry and Adornments
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: Ornate hairpins (kondakoora) were worn by women in Columbo and the Western Province of Sri Lanka in the 18th-early 20th century. Typically made of gold, gilt silver, or silver, they feature an arrow-shaped terminal and a decorative gem-encrusted finial shaped like a paisley motif or Persian boteh. The upper end of the gold terminal of this hairpin has openwork repoussé vertical panels with floral scrolling vines. The hairpin is inlaid with garnets. It is inscribed and dated 1873.

Comparable Sri Lankan hairpins are in the British Museum, London (1953,1218.19-.20 and As1904,-.88-.89); and Victoria and Albert Museum, London (IM.345-1920 and IM.355-1920). See also https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/archived_objects/sri-lankan-hairpins/