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

This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Tiara

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

Floral tiaras are very rare as they are usually broken down into separate sprays and sold as brooches. This tiara is formed of seven floral sprays. It has been worn as a necklace at some time in the past.

A love of nature was one of the most universal and respected sentiments in the 19th century. Naturalistic jewellery, influenced by the Romantic movement and the revived Rococo style, developed early in the period. Its success was due to the beauty and wearability of jewelled flowers and foliage, but also to the continuing interest in botany.

Until around 1830 the designs were stylised and delicate. Later, the ever-more precise copies of flowers, leaves, fruit and insects formed extravagant, colourful and complex compositions. Often the ornament included roses, lilies, chrysanthemums and fuchsias, the most fashionable flowers at the time.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Tiara
  • Catch
  • Catch
Materials and techniques
Brilliant-cut diamond set in silver, with rubies set in gold, and a gold frame
Brief description
Wreath, for wearing on the head or around the neck, brilliant-cut diamond flowers and foliage set in silver, Western Europe, about 1830-40
Physical description
Wreath of brilliant-cut diamond flowers and foliage set in silver, with ruby stamens set in gold, in a gold frame. For wearing on the head or around the neck. The fitting to convert the piece into a necklace is a replacement for an earlier one.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.4cm
  • Width: 17.3cm
  • Depth: 2.5cm
The object is measured as previously displayed (as a necklace).
Object history
Natural History Museum Exhibition RF.2005/164
Subjects depicted
Summary
Floral tiaras are very rare as they are usually broken down into separate sprays and sold as brooches. This tiara is formed of seven floral sprays. It has been worn as a necklace at some time in the past.

A love of nature was one of the most universal and respected sentiments in the 19th century. Naturalistic jewellery, influenced by the Romantic movement and the revived Rococo style, developed early in the period. Its success was due to the beauty and wearability of jewelled flowers and foliage, but also to the continuing interest in botany.

Until around 1830 the designs were stylised and delicate. Later, the ever-more precise copies of flowers, leaves, fruit and insects formed extravagant, colourful and complex compositions. Often the ornament included roses, lilies, chrysanthemums and fuchsias, the most fashionable flowers at the time.
Collection
Accession number
M.45:1 to 3-1980

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Record createdAugust 11, 2005
Record URL
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