Bukharan Silver Horse Ornament

A Massive Silver and Gilt Equestrian Amulet

Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan,

19th-20th century

height: 112 cm, width: 59.7 cm

An equestrian silver ornament with parcel gilding, of rectangular form inset with a large carnelian stone within raised bosses, with hanging chains and pendants.

Covers at either end of the central tubular case pull away to reveal a container that held talismanic and Koranic paper prayers. Nineteen chains with raised cartouches and pendants hang from the ornament (two chains are missing) which is suspended from ten cartouches joined by multiple loops. Carnelian is favoured in the Middle East and Central Asia. The Prophet Muhammad reputedly wore a ring set with the stone.

This piece most probably originated with the Yomud tribe.

Provenance

the Kate Kemper Collection

References

Other similar amulets are in Christie’s New York, ‘Indian and Southeast Asian Art’, March 31, 2005, lots 213-217.

Inventory no.: 5

SOLD