Braid ornament (choti)

Object Details

• Description

  This long, tapering gold braid ornament is composed of 15 segments, the last being a small crab or fish-like piece. The first segment has a repousse depiction of Krishna playing the flute and dancing under the canopy of a multi-hooded serpent. Each of the succeeding 13 segments are composed of double gold leaves in which a floral medallion with a red glass center nestles. Each of the flowers is composed of different design elements. However, the row of gradually diminishing circles form a handsome "spine" for this braid ornament.

  The ornament is made of gold sheet with chased and repousse decoration. A soft filling of lac is backed with silver sheet. Black cords passing through the three silver loops soldered to the back of each section hold the sections together.

• Label

  Gold jewelry given to a bride remains her property throughout her life. A liquid asset that may be sold in times of need, it is also desired for its beauty. The elegantly tapered form of this hair ornament evokes the poetic archetype of the beloved's braid as a sinuous snake. The largest medallion depicts the Hindu deity Krishna dancing beneath a multi-headed serpent.

• Provenance

  ?-1991

  François Rabier, Brussels, Belgium, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1991

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from François Rabier [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See invoice from François Rabier to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated November 19, 1990, copy in object file.

  François Rabier is a dealer in Brussels, Belgium that has been active in Brussels since in the 1980s and specializes in sculpture, jewelry, and other three-dimensional objects from Africa and Asia, including China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Rabier exhibits and sells objects in his gallery and through auctions, including online auctions. He has also previously participated in the art fair BRUNEAF (BRUssels Non-European Art Fair). He has operated under the names Dominique and François Rabier, Brussels, and François Rabier Asian & Tribal Art, Brussels.

  [2] See Freer Gallery of Art “Acquisition Consideration Form,” marked approved on April 25, 1991, copy in object file.

  Research updated March 1, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

  South Asian Sculpture (February 22, 2000 to June 18, 2003)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

• Previous custodian or owner

  François Rabier

• Origin

  Tamil Nadu state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• On View

  Freer Gallery 01: Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1930s, 1860s

• Name

  Rabier, Francois

• Place

  Tamil Nadu state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Repoussé, Gold, Art, Inlay (process), Krishna, Flowers, Chasing, Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry

• On View

  Yes