Mongolian Ear or Temporal Ornaments with Silver, Coral, Turquoise & Peking Glass

This splendid pair of ornaments from the Ordo Mongols of Mongolia, would have been worn suspended from an aristocratic woman’s headdress, down each side of the face in such a way that they look as if their were earrings. Each of the pair comprises four strands of coral beads, with some small silver and turquoise beads, with silver bats disgorging pink glass tear drops, then with silver chains that incorporate fine, silver endless knot motifs and then bell-shaped terminals.

All this is suspended each from a rectangular, open ornament decorated with silver applied silver filigree and a large central coral lozenge, above which there are hooks to allow further suspension from a headdress and these are inset with turquoise cabochons.

Amidst the coral strands of each set also is suspended a more conventional ear ornament (suike) that comprises a hoop with an applied highly decorative plaque set with silver filigree and coral and turquoise cabochons, and and a long, stiff pendant of large coral and turquoise spheres with enamelled silver mounts.

The elements between each pair of temporals do not match precisely but clearly they were intended to be worn as a pair.

The pair of ornaments are mounted on a custom made display stand.