Brooch thumbnail 1
Brooch thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Brooch

ca. 1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This brooch is in the form of a stylised basket of flowers.
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

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, emerald, turquoises and topazes
Brief description
Brooch, gold set with turquoise, pink topaz, aquamarine and with an emerald in the form of a basket of flowers, France (Paris), ca. 1830.
Physical description
Brooch, gold set with turquoise, pink topaz, aquamarine and with an emerald in the form of a basket of flowers. Unidentified maker's mark. Paris warranty mark for 1819-38.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.4cm
  • Width: 6.1cm
  • Depth: 1.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Unidentified maker's mark.)
  • (Paris warranty mark for 1819-38.)
Credit line
Given by the Countessa Gautier
Subjects depicted
Summary
This brooch is in the form of a stylised basket of flowers.
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.642-1911

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 11, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest