Necklace thumbnail 1
Necklace thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Necklace

ca. 1835 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The style of the setting and use of filigree wires inspired by antique Greek garnet jewellery.

The colourful and flamboyant jewellery of the 1820s and 1830s could be set with up to a dozen different stones within a rich gold and coloured gold framework. Special manufacturing techniques and decorative effects were used to achieve an expensive finish using smaller amounts of gold. Although lightly made, this opulent jewellery looked heavier than earlier Neo-classical work.

The highly ornate filigree work of spirals (cannetille) and granules (grainti) added an appealing relief texture, but it was more popular on mainland Europe than in England, where clients preferred more substantial areas of plain gold.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold filigree wire and garnets
Brief description
Necklace, gold filigree set with garnets, France, about 1835
Physical description
Necklace, gold filigree wire, set with garnets.
Dimensions
  • Unclasped length: 40.8cm
  • Fastened height: 20.5cm
  • Fastened width: 19.5cm
  • Depth: 0.6cm
Credit line
Cory Bequest
Summary
The style of the setting and use of filigree wires inspired by antique Greek garnet jewellery.

The colourful and flamboyant jewellery of the 1820s and 1830s could be set with up to a dozen different stones within a rich gold and coloured gold framework. Special manufacturing techniques and decorative effects were used to achieve an expensive finish using smaller amounts of gold. Although lightly made, this opulent jewellery looked heavier than earlier Neo-classical work.

The highly ornate filigree work of spirals (cannetille) and granules (grainti) added an appealing relief texture, but it was more popular on mainland Europe than in England, where clients preferred more substantial areas of plain gold.
Collection
Accession number
M.68-1951

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Record createdAugust 10, 2005
Record URL
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