Jhumar, (hair ornament)

Historical period(s)
ca. 1890
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 12.3 x 6.6 x 0.4 cm (4 13/16 x 2 5/8 x 3/16 in)
Geography
India, Punjab
Credit Line
Gift of Rajinder K. Keith and Narinder K. Keith in honor of their mother, Sardarni Karam Kaur Keith
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1988.53
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Jewelry and Ornament, Metalwork
Type

Jewelry

Keywords
India
Provenance

From about 1890
Mrs. Bhagwan Kaur, Punjab, India, from about 1890 [1]

To 1988
Ms. Rajinder K. Keith and and Ms. Narinder K. Keith, Washington, DC, by descent from Mrs. Bhagwan Kaur, to 1988 [2]

From 1988
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Ms. Rajinder K. Keith and and Ms. Narinder K. Keith in 1988

Notes:

[1] These ornaments were made in c. 1890 for Mrs. Bhagwan Kaur, wife of Sardar Thakur Singh Keith, a Revenue Officer in the state of Punjab. They were then handed down to her daughter-in-law, and eventually to her grand-daughters (the donors) who now reside in the Washington area. For more family history, see object file (according to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record).

[2] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Mrs. Bhagwan Kaur
Narinder Kaur Keith
Rajinder Kaur Keith

Label

Women's hair ornaments (passas) from the state of Punjab were worn attached to each other by a cord over the head. Hanging on either side of the forehead, they are called passas," meaning "sides." During the Mughal period, this type of hair ornament became prevalent in India and was often included in a bride's dowry. Made in the late nineteenth century, this pair reflects the continuation of an aspect of Mughal taste after the decline of the empire. The "diamond-cut" technique applied to the decoration imparts extra brilliance to the twenty-four-carat gold.

Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use

Related Objects