Spoon, Cambay, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
Spoon in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 722-1903), made in Cambay, dated 19th century. The museum's brief description reads: Spoon, carnelian bowl, green moss agate handle and gilt metal link, Cambay India, 19th century. Museum description: A spoon consisting of a deep bowl fashioned in orange carnelian and a faceted, turned and engraved handle fashioned in green moss agate, connected via a mount of gilt metal engraved with scrolling foliage. The museum records it as Carnelian, moss agate and gilt metal. Fashioned using a variety of techniques., measuring Length 217 mm; Length 55.3 mm; Width 39.25 mm; Depth 22.25 mm; Thickness 1.2 to 2.5 mm; Length 122.5 mm; Width 6.3 to 6.8 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
This spoon was fashioned in the Indian town of Khambhat (also known as Cambay) and consists of a carnelian bowl and a moss agate handle, with gilt-metal mounts. The town, situated at the northern end of the Gulf of Khambhat, was once an important trading centre for the region until its harbour silted up. Despite having no stone deposits of its own, Khambhat has been renowned for centuries for the craft of agate-working and especially bead-making, with the raw materials coming from more distant sources.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- carnelian, moss agate, gilt metal
- Dimensions
- Length 217 mm; Length 55.3 mm; Width 39.25 mm; Depth 22.25 mm; Thickness 1.2 to 2.5 mm; Length 122.5 mm; Width 6.3 to 6.8 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Carnelian, moss agate and gilt metal. Fashioned using a variety of techniques.
- Place recorded
- Cambay
Identification
- Museum object name
- Spoon
- Museum object number
- 722-1903
- Museum system number
- O472611
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.