Indian, Jaipur
Pair of Armlets (Bazubands), 19th century
Gold on a lac core, with precious and semi-precious stones, enamel decoration, and cords of silk and gold with seed pearls , 22.7 cm (8 15/16 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
These two Indian armlets, known as bazubands, worn on the upper arm, are made of gold on a lac core: a resinous secretion from the lac insect. Each armlet has eleven rectangular segments that are hinged together. Each segment is decorated with five precious and semi-precious stones, a large stone is embedded in the center and four smaller stones are fashioned to each corner. On either side, the armlet ends with a cone-shaped piece that is covered in seed pearls and tassels made of silk and gold thread. On the reverse side of the armlets, the segments feature painted blue and white birds with leaf motifs.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner purchased these armlets from an antiques dealer in Calcutta, India, in 1884. Set with eleven brilliantly-hued gemstones, they were purportedly owned by Zinat Mahal, the favorite wife of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II. Gardner was captivated by the life stories of aristocratic women and collected objects intimately associated with them, including their clothing and jewelry.