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Earring

1800-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Italian women have always loved lavish display, and even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. The most important item was a pair of gold earrings. Their shapes varied widely in different places. This earring, with its swirling bands of seed pearls, is typical of the kind worn in the Veneto, the area around Venice.

However, it was described as Dalmatian when it was acquired in 1929, and this is quite possible. Much of the jewellery worn with traditional costume in the region along the coasts of the north-east Adriatic was strongly influenced by Venetian prototypes, and earrings like these survive in the treasuries of churches in the region.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Earring
  • Earring
Materials and techniques
Sheet gold with strings of seed pearls attached to its surface
Brief description
Pair of gold pendent earrings decorated with strings of seed pearls, Dalmatia (Croatia), 1800-1850.
Physical description
Pair of gold and pearl pendent earrings. Each consists of a round plaque of sheet gold attached to the front of a hinged wire. There are circles of concentric wired seed pearls on the front of the plaque, and the edge is cut to look like a ring of discs. The pendant hangs loosely from the wire. It consists of a hollow drop of sheet gold cut out as slightly swirling strips. Each strip is covered by a string of seed pearls. There is a tiny pendant of seed pearls hanging from the centre of the base.
Marks and inscriptions
2 illegible marks in rectangular frames. One possibly '...2'. One possibly a monogram 'V...' (On side of wire.)
Credit line
Given by Miss Jane I. Auty in memory of her mother
Summary
Italian women have always loved lavish display, and even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. The most important item was a pair of gold earrings. Their shapes varied widely in different places. This earring, with its swirling bands of seed pearls, is typical of the kind worn in the Veneto, the area around Venice.

However, it was described as Dalmatian when it was acquired in 1929, and this is quite possible. Much of the jewellery worn with traditional costume in the region along the coasts of the north-east Adriatic was strongly influenced by Venetian prototypes, and earrings like these survive in the treasuries of churches in the region.
Bibliographic reference
For similar Dalmatian examples, see: Pazzi, Piero, ‘Gioielli delle Bocche di Cattaro: Perasto, Dobrota, Scagliari e Perzagno’, Venice, 2010, p. 97.
Collection
Accession number
M.108&A-1929

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Record createdSeptember 9, 2005
Record URL
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