Swat Valley Silver Torc Necklace

A striking hand beaten torc necklace, very high grade silver with embossed and engraved decoration, set with a resin stone. There is a loop behind the flower to suspend further jewellery from or to fasten to clothing. From the Swat Valley, northwest Pakistan, late 19th Century. This type of torc was worn by high status married women. Wear on the upper loops suggests that the piece may have originally been suspended from strings or chains as a pectoral decoration rather than clasped around the neck.

Measurements: Total height 21.4 cm, diameter of flower 3.5 cm