Dress Ornament thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 62, The Foyle Foundation Gallery

Dress Ornament

1610-1620 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Dress ornaments were small items of adornment, for the wealtheir clients usually made of gold, silver or silver gilt and often elaborately decorated. They were sewn onto garments for decorative effect rather than for any functional purpose. They were often made in matching sets of differing sizes so that they could be strategically placed across the sleeves, bodice, or jacket, and were worn by both men and women.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cast and enamelled gold
Brief description
Enamelled gold openwork ornament with a cast female figure at the centre, Southern Germany, 1610-1620
Physical description
Gold openwork ornament with a cast female figure at the centre holding two goblets and therefore identified as Temperance. Enamelled in white, blue, green and black.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.8cm
  • Width: 2.8cm
  • Depth: 0.5cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Gallery label
'LINK OF A CHAIN Enamelled gold openwork, with a cast figure of Temperance. SOUTH GERMAN: early 17th c. 9038-1863' This is the full text from Bury, 1982, Case 13, Board F, no.2(1982)
Historical context
This jewel was probably a dress ornament originally sewn onto the fabric of the dress.
The female figure at the centre is identified as Temperance because of her attribute, two goblets of water. She therefore may have been part of a set of ornaments depicting the cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance), which were often paired with the theological Virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity).
Subject depicted
Summary
Dress ornaments were small items of adornment, for the wealtheir clients usually made of gold, silver or silver gilt and often elaborately decorated. They were sewn onto garments for decorative effect rather than for any functional purpose. They were often made in matching sets of differing sizes so that they could be strategically placed across the sleeves, bodice, or jacket, and were worn by both men and women.
Bibliographic reference
Bury, Shirley, Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue (Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982), Case 13, Board F, no.10
Collection
Accession number
9038-1863

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Record createdAugust 3, 2005
Record URL
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