Choker

Clothing/Dress/Costume

-

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Choker

Entry/Object ID

1998.11.18

Description

Choker with heart and disk shaped pendants

Acquisition

Accession

1998.11

Source or Donor

Albert R. Spalding, Virginia Spalding

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Albert R. and Virginia Spalding

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Choker

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Necklace

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Jewelry

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Body Adornments

Nomenclature Class

Adornment

Nomenclature Category

Category 03: Personal Objects

Dimensions

Height

5-1/4 in

Length

12 in

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This choker bears reference to Islamic beliefs through the centrally located waning moon shape known to signify the Arabic Leagues, and through the alternating heart shapes seen linking the circles of silver dangling from the diadem. The heart shape is relative to the Arabic number “5” and is represented also through the five points of the Venus star which are said to represent the five pillars of Islam. The color usage also signifies the presence of Muslim beliefs in that green is said to be the color of “Allah”, and red being the reference to “blood shed” in historical jihad or “holy war”.