Origin of Name
The Canning Jewel, a sculptural pendant
characteristic of the Renaissance period that lasted from the 15th to
17th centuries A.D., incorporating a large baroque pearl as its
centerpiece, combined with gold, enameling colored gemstones and
diamonds to form the figure of a bearded merman brandishing a scimitar
in the right hand and something that looks like a dragon's head in the
left hand, gets its name from its one time owner Charles John Canning,
Ist Earl Canning, known as Viscount Canning, who was the Governor
General of India, from 1856 to 1861. This was a tumultuous period
in the history of India, that saw the first organized rebellion against
British rule in 1857, known in India as the First War of Independence
from Britain, but otherwise referred to in history as the Indian Mutiny
or the Indian uprising. This exquisitely crafted sculptural pendant
considered as a lasting monument to the ingenuity, inventiveness and
craftsmanship of the Renaissance jeweler, was believed to have been
acquired by Viscount Canning while serving in India, in one of three
possible ways - given as a gift to the Viscount; purchased by the
Viscount from its owner; confiscated by the Viscount, by virtue of the
powers vested in him as the Governor General, the representative of the
Queen of the United Kingdom in British Colonial India.
Characteristics of
the Canning Jewel
The use of baroque
pearls by Renaissance jewelry craftsmen in creating sculptural pendants
The Canning Jewel is a sculptural pendant of the late
Renaissance period, ascribed by some jewelry historians to Benvenuto
Cellini, a celebrated sculptor, goldsmith, author and soldier of the
Italian Renaissance. Around this period from the 15th to 17th centuries,
baroque pearls in large quantities had reached the European markets,
from the traditional pearl producing countries like the Persian Gulf,
the Red Sea and Gulf of Mannar, and also from the newly discovered pearl
banks of the New World, in Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, but obviously
there was no demand for such pearls because of their irregular shapes,
that would not fit into any type of existing jewelry at that time. Pearl
dealers had large numbers of such irregular-shaped pearls in their
stocks, not knowing what to do with their accumulated stocks. It was
then that the enterprising jewelry craftsmen of the Renaissance period,
came up with the idea, of incorporating these baroque pearls, together
with other colored gemstones, in various fancy shaped pendants;
shapes
that bore fruit in the fertile imagination of the craftsmen taking into
consideration the unique shape of each baroque pearl. The result
was a host of different pendants with a multitude of shapes such as
animal and bird figures, bunches of flowers and fruits, monsters,
dragons, mermaids and other mythical figures; the shape of the pendants
being determined by the shape of the baroque pearls that were
incorporated in them. Such sculptural pendants as they were known,
combined the baroque pearls with gold, silver, enameling and other
colored gemstones, to obtain the pre-conceived shape of the
jewelry craftsman.
Some of the well
known sculptural pendants of the Renaissance period
Some of the well known sculptural pendants of the
Renaissance period that are found in various museums around the world,
are the Canning Jewel in the Victoria Albert Museum; the late-16th
century Netherlands Swan Pendant, the late-16th century Italian Caravel
Pendant, Mid-16th century French Mars Pendant, Netherlands Siren Pendant
of the early-17th century, and the Netherlands Cupid Pendant of the
late-16th century, all at the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg,
Russia; Erasmus Hornick's pendants of mythical creatures designed in
1562, German Sea Dragon Pendant designed in 1575, and the Spanish Bird
and Lizard Pendants of 1580, whose photographs appear in Joan Evans book
"A History of Jewelry 1100-1870" published in New York, in the year
2000.
Description of the
Canning Jewel
The Canning Jewel is said to be 4 inches (10 cm)
long, probably in the vertical direction from the scimitar above the
head of the merman to the bottom of the suspended baroque pearl in the
center. A large nacreous baroque pearl is the centerpiece of the jewel,
that forms the torso of the merman. The remaining parts of the merman,
such as the head, hands and the tail and associated structures such as
the sword, the dragon head and the floral motifs, are made of gold and
enamel, and studded with rubies and diamonds.
Three large pearls hanging from the lower side of the
pendant, has a dual function of decorating as well as stabilizing the
pendant. The largest of these is a baroque pearl hanging from the center
of the pendant, just below the torso of the merman. The other two pearls
are of the same size having almost the same cylindrical shape, one
hanging from under the tail of the merman, and the other hanging from
below the head of the monster held by the left hand of the merman. The
tail of the merman is studded with a central oval-shaped ruby and eight
rose-cut diamonds. The entire setting appears to be a depiction of some
form of victory by the merman over a dragon-like sea monster whose head
the merman holds in the left hand and the sword used in defeating the
monster in the right hand.
History of the
Canning Jewel
Where was the Canning
Jewel designed ? How did the Canning Jewel come into India ? How did the
Canning jewel fall into the hands of the British ?
At the time Sotheby's put up the Canning Jewel for
sale on July 16, 1931, an elaborate catalogue, with a colored
frontispiece was printed for the auction. The catalogue gave a brief
history of this exceptionally fine example of a Renaissance pendant.
According to this account the Canning Jewel was designed in Europe, in
Florence probably by Benvenuto Cellini in the late 16th century, and
later given as a gift by one of the Medicis to a Mogul Emperor of India,
where it remained in the Mogul treasury until it was inherited by the
last of the Mogul emperors Bahadur Zafar Shah II, whose rule was
restricted to the City of Delhi. After the Indian Mutiny of 1857, Delhi
was captured by the British, and Bahadur Zafar Shah II was arrested and
exiled to Burma, thus ending the 331-year Mughal rule of India, that
started in 1526 A.D. It is believed that after the fall of Delhi, the
Canning Jewel and other jewels that were in the Mughal treasury, fell
into the hands of the British forces, and thus came into the possession
of Viscount Canning, who was the Governor General of India, at that
time.
Bahadur Shah II- Last Mughal Emperor of India
The Canning Jewel
originated in Italy, but the actual designer of the jewel is not known
Some authorities believe that the Canning Jewel
originated in the 1580's. If we accept this as correct, the jewel could
not have been designed by Benvenuto Cellini, as the renowned sculptor
and goldsmith died in Florence on February 14, 1571. at the age of 70
years. Thus it is difficult to ascribe the Canning Jewel to any
particular designer of the Renaissance period. Benvenuto Cellini is
among the best known artisans of the Renaissance period, but none of his
jewels is believed to have survived. The Italian origin of the Canning
Jewel is quite plausible, as there are other sculptural pendants
incorporating baroque pearls, of the Renaissance period and of Italian
origin, that are preserved in various museums, such as the Italian Caravel Pendant at the Hermitage Museum.
The Canning Jewel was
given as a gift by one of the Medicis to a Moghul emperor
The belief that the Canning Jewel was given as a gift
by one of the Medicis to a Mogul emperor of India might be correct, but
the identity of the Medici ruler or the Mogul emperor are not known. The
Medicis are a bourgeois family of Florence who assumed aristocratic
status after its founder Giovanni di Bicci de Medici, a merchant,
amassed great wealth in trade and became the virtual ruler of Florence
from 1421 to 1429. The two major branches of the family originated from
the two sons of the founder. The family ruled Florence and later Tuscany from
A.D. 1430 to A.D. 1737. The Medici family were benevolent patrons of the
arts, and produced four popes for the Catholic Church, and married into
the royal family of France. Catherine de Medici, was the queen consort
of King Henry II of France from 1547 to 1559 and Marie de Medici, the
queen consort of King Henry IV of France from 1600 to 1610. The rulers
of Florence around the time the Canning Jewel was produced were Cosimo
I, the second Duke of Florence who ruled between 1537 to 1574, Francesco
I de Medici, the Grand duke of Tuscany, who ruled from 1574 to 1587 and
Ferdinando I de Medici who ruled from 1587 to 1609.
The extravagance of
the Mughal courts during its classic period
Mughal rule in India began in 1526, after the capture
of Delhi and Agra by Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad also known as Babar. The
Mughal empire lasted until 1858, but the empire reached the height of
its glory between 1556 and 1707, during the period of rule of the great
Mughal Emperors, Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (1556-1605), Nuruddin
Muhammad Jahangir (1605-1627), Shahabuddin Muhammad Shah Jahan
(1627-1658) and Moinuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb (1658-1707). The Mughal
period in India, was a period of great refinement and advancement. The
empire commanded wealth and resources unparalleled in the history of the
subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were great patrons of the arts,
literature and architecture, which flourished during this period. They
were also known for the pomp and pageantry of their courts, that dazzled
with jewel-studded thrones, jewel-studded royal robes, and other
jewel-studded ornaments worn by the Emperor and the members of his
family. Such extravagance reached a climax during the period of Emperor
Shah Jahan, whose "Peacock Throne" is said to be the most splendorous
throne ever made in the history of mankind. The treasury of the Mughal
emperors were renowned to have contained large quantities of precious
stones, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and pearls,
both loose as well as set in different forms of jewelry. It is not known
whether the Canning Jewel entered the Mughal treasury during its classic
period between 1556 to 1707 or afterwards.
The possible ways in
which the Canning Jewel might have come into the possession of Viscount Canning
The Canning Jewel
was appropriated by the British Colonial Authorities after the fall of
Delhi in 1857
According to a weekly newspaper "Notes and Queries"
dated July 4, 1931, that was published every Friday, at 14, Burleigh
Street, London, a report on the proposed sale of the "Canning Jewel" by
Sotheby's on July 16, 1931, stated that the Canning Jewel which was
believed to have been a gift from one of the Medicis to a Mogul Emperor
of India, was appropriated by the Indian Colonial Government, after the
fall of Delhi during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Thus, according to this
report the "Canning Jewel" came into the possession of Viscount Canning,
only by virtue of the powers vested in him as the Governor General of
India. The situation was similar to the appropriation of the "Koh-i-Noor
Diamond" for the British Crown, by Lord Dalhousie, Viscount Canning's
predecessor on March 29, 1849, after the fall of Punjab.
Charles John Canning-Governor General and Ist Viceroy
of India
The Canning Jewel
was given as a gift to Viscount Canning in appreciation of his services
to India
Other authorities have suggested that the Canning
Jewel was actually given as a gift to Viscount Canning by the Maharajahs
of India, in appreciation of his services to India, during his tenure as
Governor General. This suggestion appears to have some merit given the
successful manner in which Viscount Canning steered the affairs of the state during
the Indian rebellion of 1857, recapturing the areas that came under
rebel control, and after establishing the authority of the Colonial
Government, successfully resisting demands for widespread vengeance in
retaliation for British lives lost in the mutiny, thus earning the
nickname "Clemency Canning." After the mutiny, he initiated a more
liberal policy and worked towards promoting the loyalty of Indians to
Britain, by banning interference in Indian religion and custom,
guaranteeing the continuity of princely states, founding the first
Indian universities, introducing tenancy legislation, stopping land
grabs and admitting Indians into the civil service. He also embarked on
a program to reorganize the army. The British East India Company that
ruled India was dissolved after the mutiny, and in its place the India
Office, under a Secretary of State for India was created, entrusted with
formulating policies for ruling India, that was implemented by the
office of the Governor General of India, henceforth known as the Viceroy
of India. Viscount Canning was appointed the first Viceroy of India in
1858, in recognition of his services to the British Crown during the
mutiny. In 1859, Queen Victoria honored him, by making him an extra
civil grand cross of the Order of the Bath, and in May of the same year
granting him the dignity of an Earl, as Earl Canning. Again in 1862
after he retired and returned to England, more honors were bestowed on
him, and he was created a Knight of the Garter, just one month before
his death.
The Canning Jewel was purchased by Viscount Canning
from its owner
A third
possible way in which the Canning Jewel might have come into the
possession of Viscount Canning was by purchasing the jewel either from
its original owner, or from a subsequent owner who possibly appropriated
the jewel from its previous owner, during the tumultuous days of the
Indian Mutiny, when the British soldiers went on the rampage killing
people and looting their valuable possessions, in the immediate
aftermath of the fall of the centers of rebellion, such as Delhi, Kanpur
and Lucknow. The report appearing on the weekly newspaper "Notes and
Queries" also seem to suggest that the first Viceroy, Lord Canning
purchased the jewel, after it fell into British hands in the immediate
aftermath of the mutiny.
The fate of the
Canning Jewel after the death of Earl Canning
The first Viceroy of India, Earl Canning retired from
his post in early 1862, and left India immediately, reaching England in
April 1862. By this time his health and strength had been seriously
impaired, due the strain of hard work and anxiety during the tumultuous
days of the mutiny, which was compounded by the shock and grief caused
by the death of his beloved wife. Just two months after his arrival in
England, Earl Canning died on June 17, 1862. Being childless at the time
of his death, the titles Viscount and Earl became extinct after his
death.
According to the weekly newspaper, "Notes and
Queries," the
Canning Jewel was inherited by the second Lord Clanricarde, after the
death of the first Viceroy Earl Canning. From Lord Clanricarde the jewel
was inherited by Lord Harewood, who put it up for sale at a Sotheby's
auction held on July 16, 1931. According to the "Illustrated London
News" of 1944, the Canning Jewel sold at the Sotheby's auction in 1931
for £10,000, but the identity of the new owner is
not revealed. In any case
whoever who purchased the Canning Jewel at the Sotheby's auction of
1931, resold it to the Victoria Albert Museum in 1935, for £26,000,
realizing a clear profit of £16,000 by the sale. The Canning Jewel had
ever since remained a valuable possession of the Victoria Albert Museum,
thought to be one of the finest surviving examples of a sculptural
pendant of the Renaissance period.
The
authenticity of the Canning Jewel as a Renaissance piece is questioned
Ever since the Canning Jewel was acquired by the
Victoria Albert Museum, it remained a prized exhibit in their jewelry
collection and was considered as a unique example of a sculptural
pendant of late 16th-century provenance belonging to the late
Renaissance period. However, a careful study of the renowned pendant
recently by jewelry historians has revealed evidence that questions the
authenticity of the 16th-century provenance of the jewel.
Evidences that
favored the view that the Canning jewel was a Renaissance piece
Among the evidences that favored the view that the
Canning Jewel was a sculptural pendant of the Renaissance period were
the following :-
1) The design and concept of the pendant depicting a
mythical creature like a merman, apparently victorious over some form of
monster.
2) The use of a baroque pearl as the centerpiece of
the design.
3) The three dangling drop pearls hanging from the
lower side of the pendant, with a stabilizing function.
4) The existence of similar pieces though not exactly
the same design, ascribed without any doubt to the Renaissance period,
in various museums such as the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Evidences that favor
the view that the Canning Jewel is a Renaissance revival piece
Evidences that have come to light recently seem to
suggest that the Canning Jewel is not actually a piece belonging to the
Renaissance period but to a period one to two centuries afterwards now
known as the Renaissance revival period. The production of Renaissance
revival jewelry peaked in the 1860s and 1870s, but the Canning Jewel
undoubtedly would have been produced before 1856, the year Viscount
Canning assumed duties as the Governor General of India. The strong line
of evidence that favors the view that the Canning Jewel is a Renaissance
revival piece, is the presence of several rose-cut diamonds on the tail
of the merman, which in the history of jewelry first came into popular
use in the west in the late Baroque period during the late 17th century,
i.e. at least a century after the previously accepted production year of
1580s in the late Renaissance period. Thus given the fact that the
diamonds used in the Canning Jewel does not belong to the late
Renaissance period, combined with the fact that the design elements are
undoubtedly of late Renaissance period, has given rise to the
speculation that the piece is actually a Renaissance revival piece. If
we accept the view that the Canning Jewel is actually a Renaissance
revival piece, the entire history of the jewel prior to its acquiring by
Viscount Canning is thrown into question, and becomes murkier than ever
before.
You are welcome to discuss this post/related topics with Dr Shihaan and other experts from around the world in our FORUMS (forums.internetstones.com)
Related :-
1)
The Tarantula Brooch
2)
The Pearl of Asia
References :-
1) Monstrous Animals : Hanging Animal Pendants of the
Late Renaissance, by Alexander Ceely.
www.ladysmaidjewels.com
2) The Canning Jewel -
www.cooljools.com
3) The Illustrated London News 1944 -
www.iln.org.uk
4) The Medici Family - Encyclopedia Britannica 2009
5) Charles Canning, Ist Earl Canning - From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
6) Benvenuto Cellini - From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
7) Indian Rebellion of 1857 - From Wikipeia, the free
encyclopedia
8) The Mughal Empire - John F. Richards, New
Cambridge History of India, 1996.
