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Comments

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  SARAH CORBETT July 4, 2011 at 11:34pm

  so beautiful
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  Alaa eddine SAGID July 5, 2011 at 3:09am

  I always admired mongolian jewelry for it is very sophisticated and uses many techniques that one would not expect to be patronised by mere nomads!!

   

  Enameling and coral cabochons!!!!! could these techniques be a legacy of their close contact (peaceful or not) with the different chinese dynasties ?
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  Joost Daalder July 5, 2011 at 6:16pm

  While originally indeed "mere nomads", Ayis, the Mongols at an early time were already culturally sophisticated and showed great fondness for colour. Although very capable themselves, they did, of course, also undergo the influence of Tibetans and Han Chinese. Nevertheless, throughout history Mongol (later "Mongolian") artistic objects tend to have pronounced ethnic features of their own. One would not confuse this hairpin, for example, with a Chinese one. In fact much Mongolian jewellery from recent centuries is very easily identifiable as such.
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  Joost Daalder July 5, 2011 at 6:47pm

  Just a few  more comments on the complex subject of Mongols and Mongolians, Ayis: it is true that these people were in essence herdsmen to begin with, but under Genghis Khan - born in 1162 - they created one of the vastest empires ever, and were truly mighty and wealthy conquerors. Thus they certainly from that time had wide international contacts. Another point: materials in jewellery, and techniques, often spread very far. I mentioned previously that Baltic amber, for example, was well-known in the Himalayas. Similarly coral was (and is) used there and among the Mongolians, even though we normally associate it more readily with the Mediterranean and Morocco. In fact, Mongolians have used coral in abundance, and its presence is a characteristic.