Pendant thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Pendant

1675-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This jewel celebrates the pain of love. At its centre is an enamelled figure of Cupid with a heart in each hand set against a panel of woven hair. Around this, in curling gold wire is written a line from the 6th-century Greek poet Anacreon's Ode XL. Written in French, still regarded as the language of love, it pronounces 'JE ME MEURS MA MERE' (I am dying, Mother) - a cry to Venus from the god of love.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, enamel, rock crystal, silver and hair under glass
Brief description
Gold pendant, with rock crystals set in silver, an enamelled Cupid against a roundel of plaited hair, and inscribed JE ME MEURS MA MERE, probably England, 1675-1700
Physical description
Gold pendant edged with rock crystals set in silver, an enamelled Cupid against a roundel of plaited hair under glass, and inscribed in gold wire work JE ME MEURS MA MERE ('I am dying, Mother' - a translation of a line in Anacreaon' Ode XL,, probably from a version by Mathurin Régnier). The reverse is enamelled with a floral design.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.2cm
  • Width: 2.4cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
inscribed JE ME MEURS MA MERE (A translation of a line in Anacreon Ode XL, probably from a version by Mathurin Regnier)
Translation
I am dying, mother
Credit line
Bequeathed by Frank Ward
Subjects depicted
Summary
This jewel celebrates the pain of love. At its centre is an enamelled figure of Cupid with a heart in each hand set against a panel of woven hair. Around this, in curling gold wire is written a line from the 6th-century Greek poet Anacreon's Ode XL. Written in French, still regarded as the language of love, it pronounces 'JE ME MEURS MA MERE' (I am dying, Mother) - a cry to Venus from the god of love.
Collection
Accession number
M.21-1960

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Record createdJuly 18, 2006
Record URL
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