Silver case (ambousta tou korfou) on a chain, with niello decoration, Cyprus, 1750-1850.
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1750-1850
Shallow cylindrical case, slightly domed on the front and back, with hinged lid, decorated on all sides in a stylised tulip pattern with traces of niello. Suspended on three lengths of loop-in-loop chain.
The chains have two filigree rosettes, one at the centre and one at the end furthest from the case. Cypriot jewellery is a rich mix of oriental design and Greek workmanship. Their work is similar to jewellery from elsewhere in the region, but the quality is often higher. The circular shape and the decorative chain with a central bead show that it was probably intended to look like a man's pocket watch, an essential accessory for all wealthy men throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- 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
- Dimensions
- Diameter 4.7 cm; Length 43.7 cm; Depth 2.3 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Silver decorated with niello, filigree, and a turquoise paste
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Cyprus
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O79241
- Museum object number
- 1548-1888
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
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 and source attribution against specialist references.