The Met Store Necklaces*Iznik Cintamani Enamel Pendant Necklace

Art jewelry makes a unique gift for her.

This striking pendant celebrates the decoration on a painted dish (ca. 1575–90) crafted in Turkey’s renowned Iznik kilns and now in The Met collection. The pattern is a variant of a motif known as çintamani, which is Sanskrit for “auspicious jewel.” The circles and wavy stripes typically represented auspicious flaming pearls, but in the Ottoman context, they were associated with tiger stripes and leopard spots, symbols of strength and courage. The design originated in Buddhist iconography, and appears on ceramics, carpets, and textiles.