ArtFire

Turkoman or Turkmen silver rhombus breastplate in the tradition of the Teke tribe in Mari, Turkmenistan. Made at the turn of the 1900s. This item is gilded which means that a gold layer is applied in the time-tried method of all the skilled Teke silversmiths.

Along the two sides of the top section of the rhombus are 16 ancestor symbols. There are 19 pendants from the lower section of the rhombus, 18 represent the ancestors and the 19th represents the descendants from those ancestors.

The rhombus symbolizes the important mountain myth in Turkoman spirituality. There are also 19 oval carnelian cabochons. There are 9 pendants that are set with carnelian gems, while 10 more are set in the rhombus and lower border, carrying on the representation of ancestors and descendants. There are 9 silver bell beads and 10 hollow silver repousee symbolic pendants.

A significant cultural piece of museum quality.

The chain is appropriate for carrying this heavy piece, 23 inches long x 3/8 inch wide.

The rhombus is 6.75 inches at its widest point x 7.5 inches high. The pendants are 2.5 - 3 inches in length.

Reference: Schletzer, Old Silver Jewellery of the Turkoman, 1983, pp. 122, 123.

Silver, Gold, Carnelian

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