Makara-shaped Pendant

anonymous, c. 1600

This pendant is actually a little whistle: a channel runs through the middle of the creature’s mouth which connects to a notch in the stomach. A whistling noise is created by blowing into the mouth of the water creature (makara). This object, however, was intented primarily as an ornament and was inspired by European whistles made of precious metal that were used by admirals and other naval officers.

  • Artwork typeflute, pendant (jewelry)
  • Object numberAK-RBK-17524
  • Dimensionsheight 8 cm x width 10.5 cm x depth 1.8 cm
  • Physical characteristicsrock crystal, gold, sapphire, ruby

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Makara-shaped Pendant

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-RBK-17524

  • Description

    Hanger van bergkristal en goud, bezet met robijnen. De hanger heeft de vorm van een makara en is eigenlijk een fluitje.

Creation

  • Creation

    • goldsmith: anonymous, Goa
    • goldsmith: anonymous, Ceylon

  • Dating

    c. 1600

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    rock crystal, gold, sapphire, ruby

  • Dimensions

    height 8 cm x width 10.5 cm x depth 1.8 cm

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    ..; collection Hermitage, Petersburg;{Von Falke 1936, p. 23, no. K. 34.}…; collection Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, 1936;{Von Falke 1936, p. 23, no. K.34.} purchased from his estate, en bloc, by the Dienststelle Mühlmann, The Hague, for Adolf Hitler's Führermuseum, Linz, 1940;{Korthals Altes 1974, pp. 21-22.} war recuperation, SNK, 1945;{HNA, SNK Archive, 2.08.42, inv. no. 548.} on loan, with 1,702 other objects, from the DRVK to the museum, 1952;{Note RMA.} transferred to the museum, 1960

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

    • N. Vassallo e Silva, Jóias "de ouro e pedrinhas do Ceilao" / Jewels "in Gold and Stones from Ceylon", uit: Oriente, 2002, apr., pagina 23-36
    • Führer Peter-Gallerie, 1901, p. 99, nr. 53.
    • Jan Fontein, 'De vroege jaren van de vereniging: lezing nieuwjaarsbijeenkomst 2005', Aziatische Kunst 35/2 (2005), pp. 2-20.
    • H. Trnek en N. Vassello, The Portuguese Discoveries and the Renaissance Kunstkammer, Lissabon (Caluste Gulbenkian Museum), Wenen (Kunsthistorisches Museum), 2001.

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  • Makara-shaped Pendant
  • Makara-shaped Pendant