**First Time At Auction**

South Asia, Northwestern India, Mughal culture, ca. early 20th century CE. This is a stunning gold pendant inlaid with precious stones and glass in the form of 2 birds with dangling spheres along the lower edge. The 95.15% gold (equivalent to 22K+) kundan settings secure 6 emeralds, 5 rubies, and 3 quartz stones. The parrots mirror each other looking over their backs with glass eyes, a crescent shape set between. A set of three loops at the top for wearing as a pendant – undoubtably on a pearled or bejeweled chain originally. The parrot's ability to mimic human speech symbolized storytelling and faithfulness. The 14th century Persian "Tutinama" (Tales of a Parrot) were a popular collection of moralistic stories narrated by a parrot to his female owner to enthrall and prevent her from leaving the house to meet her lover while her husband was away. Size: 1.3" L x 1.25" W (3.3 cm x 3.2 cm); gold quality: 95.15% (equivalent to 22K+); weight: 11.3 grams

When the Mughals conquered India from Central Asia, they brought the technical skills of setting gems and incorporated the traditional Indian styles of goldwork - including Kundan - into their jewelry that contained Middle Eastern elements - such as intricate floral patterns and heavy stonework, as seen here. Kundan stones (Kundan meaning "highly refined gold") is the traditional North Indian Rajasthan way of setting gemstones in a gold foil between the other stones, and the pure molten gold helped achieve the tight setting. Jewelry was a crucial part of visual authority for Mughal rulers, and strategic marriages between Mughal royalty and members of Rajput aristocracy were often arranged - for both political reasons and Rajasthan's renowned jewelry production. In order to enforce their high social status, the Mughals passed Sumptuary Laws that decreed only members of the upper class could wear opulent jewelry

Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-Rajiv Mehra collection, Delhi, India

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#177546

Minor nicks to the glass eyes on the parrot. Minor indentations to the dangling spheres and pinhole perforations. Gold kundan setting and pendant is intact and excellent, and gemstones are secure and intact. Pendant is wearable!