Antique pair Navaratna bracelets. Gem stones include ruby diamond emerald coral pearl turquoise, 22k gold, enamel. Made in India. Sold to us as late Mughal. Well over 100 years old and anywhere between that and 300 years old.
Measurements:
Total length of bracelets is 7 1/2 inches (19cm). Height of each section is approximately 7mm. Total weight of bracelets is 65.1grams.
Description:
Navaratna is a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems". Jewelry created in this style has important cultural significance in almost every Asian religion. The arrangement of the gemstones is a metaphor for the universe and besides it's complex spiritual, cosmic and personal significance, offers protection to the wearer from all directions. See list of stones and their order below. The ruby, representing the sun, is always in the center. Due to their function as bracelets, these are extended Navaratna jewels, with the addition of extra gems as space fillers. They do not have any significance as far as we know. Magnificent and very rare old Mughal pair of bracelets. The tops of the octagon boxlike shaped sections are open, to hold a different-colored gem in a colette setting. The sides and back of each section are very richly enamelled in old Meenakari enamel work (enamel fused on metal), the predominant blue surrounding each gem on the sloping upper shoulders. Interesting exception of the central ruby of one bracelet, which has green enamel in this position. The backs of each section are richly enamelled with red flowers consisting of a central and 4 radiating discs of red enamel with green foliage at the cardinal points. Small gold beads form the stoppers at the terminals of the gem sections. These have been attached to replaced threading, making the bracelets as wearable today as they were 200 years ago. As with all Navaratna jewels, there is a particular order and significance to the gems, listed below. To add length, these bracelets each have the addition of two extra space filling sections, which are pink rubies and turquoise. The gems in the sapphire position do not check as sapphire and are possibly citrine (for the yellow) and iolite or topaz.
Marks:
none, as is to be expected.
Condition:
good with minor wear commensurate with age. Please see pictures for details. Note: appraisal is for only one of the bracelets. We have a 2nd appraisal for the 2nd bracelet.
List of gems in typical Navaratna jewelry, as taken from Wikipedia: Ruby for Surya (Sun), Pearl for Chandra (Moon), Red Coral for Mangala (Mars), Emerald for Budha (Mercury), Yellow sapphire for B?haspati (Jupiter), Diamond for Shukra (Venus), Blue sapphire for Shani (Saturn), Hessonite for Rahu (the ascending node of the Moon) Cat's Eye for Ketu (the descending node of the Moon) Independent appraisal to new owner upon request.
