12th-13th century
Town Gurgan,
Gurgan
Gurgan
Object qualities
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Objectaccessories (earrings, bags, cigarette cases, etc.): Hair ornament
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumGold; cast, fabricated, engraved, with a copper alloy inner sleeve, decorated with twisted wire and granulation
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SizeH. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm) W. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm)
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Geography detailsFound
Town Gurgan,
Gurgan -
Country today
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Date12th-13th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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Tubular hair ornaments have a deep history in the region of Iran and Central Asia, dating to pre-Islamic times. Worn around a thick lock of hair, this ornament would have created a striking image, especially with a brightly colored cloth slipped between the copper alloy core and the gold of the exterior, where it would have peeked through the geometric patterning of gold wire and granulation.
Reconstructions of this ornament