{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O72384"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72384/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW2860/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW2860/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AW2860","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O72384/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O72384","accessionNumber":"3462:1 to 8/(IS)","objectType":"Quoit turban","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The quoits (rings) and other steel mounts on this turban are associated with Sikhs known as Akalis. The term derives from ‘Akal’, the ‘Timeless One’ – an attributive name of God. Members of the sect are also known as Nihangs, from the Persian word meaning ‘crocodile’, signifying qualities of ferocity and fearlessness. The Akalis are an order of armed fighters among baptised Sikhs. \r\n\r\nThe frame of the turban is made of wicker and covered with cotton. There is a possibility that this was collected by a European in the Punjab and made for display rather than to be worn. A real turban would usually be tied in two stages, starting with the farla or under-turban, which signifies high rank among the Akalis. The weaponry on the turban includes a central ornament of crescents surrounded by gold-overlaid throwing quoits (chakkar or chakra). The chakkar symbolises the cyclical nature of life and is repeatedly used in Sikh symbolism. ","physicalDescription":"Akali turban; cotton wrapped over a wicker frame, with quoits and other embellishments of watered steel overlaid with gold.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cotton, wicker frame, with quoits and other embellishments of steel overlaid with gold","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AW2860"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES385143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Quoit turban","id":""}],[{"text":"Dastar Bungga","id":""}],[{"text":"chakram","id":""}],[{"text":"chakram","id":""}],[{"text":"chakram","id":""}],[{"text":"chakram","id":""}],[{"text":"chakram","id":""}],[{"text":"Quoit turban","id":""}],[{"text":"Quoit turban","id":""}],[{"text":"cord","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lahore","id":"x30874"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"mid 19th century","earliest":"1825-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the India Museum in 1879","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"450","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/04/2026","earliest":"2026-04-16","latest":"2026-04-16"},"part":"Mounted height","note":"measured by textile conservation"},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"260","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/04/2026","earliest":"2026-04-16","latest":"2026-04-16"},"part":"measurement of base","note":"measured by textile conservation"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Formerly in the collections of the India Museum and transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1880.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A conical turban of indigo blue cotton on a wicker frame, with quoits and other embellishments of steel overlaid with gold, worn by Akali Sikhs, Lahore, mid-19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Stronge, S. (Ed.) \"The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms\", V&A, 1999","id":"AUTH327365"},"details":"cat. 112 p. 223 and p. 142, pl. 162.","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Egerton, Wilbraham, <i>An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India</i>, London, 1880","id":"AUTH353483"},"details":"p.130","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 130, Cat.614"}],"production":"Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["3462:1/(IS)","3462:2/(IS)","3462:3/(IS)","3462:4/(IS)","3462:5/(IS)","3462:6/(IS)","3462:7/(IS)","3462:8/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3462","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"614"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Quoit turban [1]","chakram [1]","chakram [2]","chakram [3]","chakram [4]","chakram [5]","Quoit turban [2]","Quoit turban [3]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-02","availableToBook":false}}