Gold & Ivory Bracelet: A Glimpse into 19th Century History

Discover  this stunning gold and ivory bracelet from 1860-1870, featuring  portrait miniatures of prominent historical figures: Dost Muhammad Khan,  Bahadur Shah Zafar, and Gulab Singh, along with female portraits based  on ideal types. 

Gold  and ivory bracelet dating from around 1860-1870, featuring portrait  miniatures of prominent figures from the period. This particular  bracelet showcases the portraits of Dost Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Shah  Zafar, and Gulab Singh, as well as female portraits that may have been  modeled on ideal types rather than specific individuals. The bracelet is  housed at the Walters Art Museum.

Dost Muhammad Khan (1793-1863)  was the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan and the Barakzai  dynasty. He was an influential and powerful ruler who played a  significant role in the politics of the region during his time.

Bahadur  Shah Zafar (1775-1862) was the last Mughal emperor who ruled from 1837  until the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After the British quelled the  rebellion, he was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.

Gulab  Singh (1792-1857) was the founder of the Dogra dynasty and the first  Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He was a prominent  figure in the Sikh Empire before establishing his own independent rule.

The  gold and ivory bracelet serves as a piece of historical and cultural  significance, showcasing the rulers and influential figures of the time.  It also highlights the art of portrait miniature painting, which was a  popular form of art in the 19th century, capturing the likeness and  essence of the subjects in a small, wearable format