TIKKA, 750 thousandth yellow gold brow ornament later transf - Lot 145

TIKKA, 750 thousandth yellow gold brow ornament later transformed into a brooch featuring a crescent moon and sun or flower entirely set with diamonds and a ruby on a kundan setting, holding small pearls or cultured pearls and a ruby in the center. Indian work, probably 19th century. (Two pearls need to be refixed, due to chips and missing parts). Total height: 4.2 cm Gross weight: 19 g The tikka is a hair ornament worn by women in the center of the forehead, held in place by a chain in the middle of the parting, sometimes adorned with pearls and hanging from the hair. A similar model: Bernadette Van Gelder, Traditional Indian jewellery, the golden smile of India, p. 180. A similar model: Susan Stronge, Nima Smith and J.C. Harle, A Golden treasury, jewellery from the Indian subcontinent, p. 44.