Tiara
ca.1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Wreaths of flowers and foliage were in fashion throughout the 19th century. Sometimes they included real flowers, or artificial ones made of fabric, wax or porcelain. Here the flowers and foliage consist of diamonds and pearls. At Queen Victoria’s coronation, her attendants wore wreaths of silver corn-ears.
Naturalistic jewellery, decorated with clearly recognisable flowers and fruit, was popular for much of this period. These motifs first became fashionable in the early years of the century, with the widespread interest in botany and the influence of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth. By the 1850s the delicate early designs had given way to more extravagant and complex compositions of flowers and foliage.
At the same time, flowers were used to express love and friendship. The colours in nature were matched by coloured gemstones, and a ‘language of flowers’ spelt out special messages.
In contrast with earlier periods, the more elaborate jewellery was worn almost exclusively by women.
Naturalistic jewellery, decorated with clearly recognisable flowers and fruit, was popular for much of this period. These motifs first became fashionable in the early years of the century, with the widespread interest in botany and the influence of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth. By the 1850s the delicate early designs had given way to more extravagant and complex compositions of flowers and foliage.
At the same time, flowers were used to express love and friendship. The colours in nature were matched by coloured gemstones, and a ‘language of flowers’ spelt out special messages.
In contrast with earlier periods, the more elaborate jewellery was worn almost exclusively by women.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brilliant- and rose-cut diamonds set in silver, gold |
| Brief description | Tiara in the form of a wreath, brilliant and rose-cut diamonds with pearls set in silver, backed in gold, England, about 1850 |
| Physical description | Tiara in the form of a wreath, brilliant-cut diamonds with a few rose-cut specimens in three attached units, set in silver and backed with gold. The basic structure is a wreath of Neoclassical design. The honeysuckle palmette on a trembler a later addition of 1860–80, replacing a damaged flower |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Cory Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Wreaths of flowers and foliage were in fashion throughout the 19th century. Sometimes they included real flowers, or artificial ones made of fabric, wax or porcelain. Here the flowers and foliage consist of diamonds and pearls. At Queen Victoria’s coronation, her attendants wore wreaths of silver corn-ears. Naturalistic jewellery, decorated with clearly recognisable flowers and fruit, was popular for much of this period. These motifs first became fashionable in the early years of the century, with the widespread interest in botany and the influence of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth. By the 1850s the delicate early designs had given way to more extravagant and complex compositions of flowers and foliage. At the same time, flowers were used to express love and friendship. The colours in nature were matched by coloured gemstones, and a ‘language of flowers’ spelt out special messages. In contrast with earlier periods, the more elaborate jewellery was worn almost exclusively by women. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.117-1951 |
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| Record created | August 17, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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