Boss
1750-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
One of the most characteristic aspects of the traditional jewellery of Switzerland is the lavish use of filigree, often mixing silver and silver-gilt as here. Filigree was used for all kinds of objects, including hair pins, chains and various kinds of bodice fastener.
This boss, with its matching pair, was originally part of a hair ornament. The two bosses were fastened at either end of a curved strip of wire, like an Alice band, which was worn over the head, with the decorative bosses above the ears, to keep a small lace cap firmly in place. These hair bands were mainly worn in the canton of Graubünden, in the east of Switzerland – this one was described as having come from Engadin when it was acquired by the Museum in 1870.
This boss, with its matching pair, was originally part of a hair ornament. The two bosses were fastened at either end of a curved strip of wire, like an Alice band, which was worn over the head, with the decorative bosses above the ears, to keep a small lace cap firmly in place. These hair bands were mainly worn in the canton of Graubünden, in the east of Switzerland – this one was described as having come from Engadin when it was acquired by the Museum in 1870.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver filigree, partly gilded |
| Brief description | Silver partly-gilded filigree circular boss from a headband (Klemmer), Engadin (Switzerland), 1750-1850. |
| Physical description | Circular silver filigree boss, slightly rounded, consisting of four concentric layers alternately plain and gilt. The layers are held together at the back by a screw secured by a square plate. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production | Engadin |
| Summary | One of the most characteristic aspects of the traditional jewellery of Switzerland is the lavish use of filigree, often mixing silver and silver-gilt as here. Filigree was used for all kinds of objects, including hair pins, chains and various kinds of bodice fastener. This boss, with its matching pair, was originally part of a hair ornament. The two bosses were fastened at either end of a curved strip of wire, like an Alice band, which was worn over the head, with the decorative bosses above the ears, to keep a small lace cap firmly in place. These hair bands were mainly worn in the canton of Graubünden, in the east of Switzerland – this one was described as having come from Engadin when it was acquired by the Museum in 1870. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 165-1870 |
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| Record created | September 13, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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