Spoon, India, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
Spoon in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 664-1874), made in India, dated 19th century. The museum's brief description reads: Spoon with twisted ribs on the handle, off-white nephrite jade, gold mount, rubies, turquoise and other stones in gilt settings, inlaid, India. Museum description: A spoon with a white nephrite jade bowl and an attached grey nephrite handle that has been carved with a seven strand twist. Covering the junction is a gold mount that has a small area engraved. The bowl has been inlaid with gilt metal which is showing signs of wear to the gilding and it is inset with five ruby, three colourless and one turquoise cabochons. The clear stones have been set in reflective, closed-back settings with the colourless ones showing evidence of green colorant which has now deteriorated. The museum records it as White and grey nephrite jade, ruby, gold and gilt metal. Fashioned using a variety of techniques., measuring Length 134 mm; Length 48.0 mm; Width 40.0 mm; Depth 14.9 mm; Diameter 9.3 to 9.5 mm; Diameter 11.0 to 11.6 mm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The bowl and handle of this early 19th century Indian spoon have been fashioned from separate blocks of nephrite jade. The difference in colour between the two elements suggests they date from different periods, and were probably joined together by means of the jewelled gold band in the 19th century. The gently tapering shaft with spiralling ribs would have required great skill in order to fashion it with such evenness, and it may have been made in a royal workshop. Its truncated terminal suggests that it was originally part of a different object, and may have been cut down from the shaft of a flywhisk. The spoon was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India and bought from him by the museum in 1874. Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia. He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867. He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- nephrite, gold, gilt metal, ruby, turquoise
- Dimensions
- Length 134 mm; Length 48.0 mm; Width 40.0 mm; Depth 14.9 mm; Diameter 9.3 to 9.5 mm; Diameter 11.0 to 11.6 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- White and grey nephrite jade, ruby, gold and gilt metal. Fashioned using a variety of techniques.
- Place recorded
- India
Identification
- Museum object name
- Spoon
- Museum object number
- 664-1874
- Museum system number
- O474450
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 catalogue references against a specialist reference.