Book cover, hinged silver with agate and jasper, India, c.1880
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c.1880
This book cover was made in India in the 19th century and was acquired by Mr. Arthur Wells, a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society.
He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest. The stones were identified by Peter Wates, former head of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. A hinged book cover fashioned in silver, with repousse and chased flower and leaf decoration and it has been set with numerous medium to large, cut and polished agate and jasper plaques and shallow cabochons. The cover can be secured using two hook and eye latches.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 4
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Agate, bloodstone, jasper, moss agate and silver. Made using a wide range of techniques.
- Dimensions
- Height: 289 mm; Width: 285 mm; Depth: 45 mm; Weight: 2250 g
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- India
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O472621
- Museum object name
- Book cover
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- 1543-1882
- Museum system number
- O472621
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.