This very fine pendant (haldili) is carved from a single, translucent piece of white or ‘mutton fat’ nephrite jade (the colour is more a pale greyish-green and with excellent uniformity). Circa 18th to early 19th century.It is from northern India and probably made in Delhi. It accords with Mughal tastes, although could be worn by both Muslims and Hindus. It is decorated with various gems among a tree-of-life pattern.The design is set with four types of gems – A diamond, three rubies, three emeralds and forty sapphire beads on the 21 carat solid gold chain, The pendant is all in gold kundan settings, and all within a gold border. The gold used is typically as close to 24-carats as possible.The top has a small rectangular section which is transversely pierced to allow hanging, usually from around the neck.Such pendants were considered to have talismanic properties. The reverses of some are inscribed with Koranic verses in Arabic or Farsi although the back of this exam...