Hand Ornament

This late nineteenth-century hand ornament is based on the "hathphul," a traditional Indian wedding ornament. The top element, a gold chain studded with gemstones, encircles the wrist like a bracelet. A gold scrolling element covers the back of the hand and is set with a variety of colorful gemstones, including turquoise, sapphire, peridot, garnet, blue zircon, beryl, and tourmaline. The hathphul terminates with four finger rings that hold the jeweled ornament between the wrist and the fingers. This extraordinary jewel was created by G. Paulding Farnham for Tiffany & Co. around 1893. Trained as a designer by Edward C. Moore, Farnham was instructed to study nature and visit museum collections for inspiration. One of Tiffany’s most celebrated designers, he led the firm’s jewelry department from 1891 to 1907. This hand ornament, an important example of Farnham’s work, was published in the books Tiffany Jewel’s (1999) and Paulding Farnham: Tiffany’s Lost Genius (2000). Examples of Farnham's jewelry are rare and sought after. At the MFA this hand ornament will join a Renaissance-revival neck ornament that Farnham created around 1900 (2015.3184).