Mastery of Design: An Unusual Turban Ornament, Early Eighteenth Century

Turban Ornament
Early Eighteenth Century
Gold, Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Beryls
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In 1922 and 1923, the V&A accepted a donation of rare and unusual turban ornaments from a Mr. Talyarkhan, who had purchased them from the Maharaja of Jaipur. This gold and jeweled ornament from the early Eighteenth Century is among the most exceptional of them.


Created for a male turban, this ornament would be held in place by the folds of the turban and is designed to be viewed from both the front and from behind. The front of the piece features a pattern of flowers and leaves in rubies, emeralds, diamonds and pale beryls. The reverse shows the same design with the exclusion of the diamonds.

Historians at the V&A are unsure if this ornament was made in India or Pakistan, however, Indian portraits from this time period depict similar ornaments al lof which seem to rely on floral motifs.