Necklace 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

Necklace

1650-1675 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Each of the individual square panels of this necklace is set with a blue foil which has been painted with a symbol representing love or mortality.

These include a skull and crossbones; initials EJ beneath a coronet; a putto holding leaves; a cornucopia; two cherubs with a flaming heart; a skeleton on a tomb inscribed At Rest; a dolphin; an angel with two crosses; a crowned lion; a winged skull; a bull; the sun, moon and stars; a lyre and butterfly; flowers; clasped hands with a heart; a skull above a crown with inscriptions GLORIA and VANITAS; a putto with a lance; an elephant's head and trident; a sea animal in a shell.

Books of emblems and devices had been current since the Renaissance and such symbols were widely understood and used at the time.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Glass, over painted blue foil on silver with wax thread
Brief description
Necklace composed of glass, over blue foil, painted with devices in white, on silver backings strung on wax thread, England, 1650-1675
Physical description
Necklace composed of glass, over blue foil, painted with devices in white, on silver backings strung with wax thread. The devices are: a skull and crossbones; initials EJ beneath a coronet; a putto holding leaves; a cornucopia; two cherubs with a flaming heart; a skeleton on a tomb inscribed At Rest; a dolphin; an angel with two crosses; a crowned lion; a winged skull; a bull; the sun, moon and stars; a lyre and butterfly; initials EJ beneath a coronet; flowers; clasped hands with a heart; a skull above a crown with inscriptions GLORIA and VANITAS; a putto with a lance; an elephant's head and trident; a sea animal in a shell.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.2cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'EJ' (initials beneath a coronet)
  • 'At Rest' (inscription, tomb)
  • 'GLORIA' (inscription)
  • 'VANITAS'
Subjects depicted
Summary
Each of the individual square panels of this necklace is set with a blue foil which has been painted with a symbol representing love or mortality.

These include a skull and crossbones; initials EJ beneath a coronet; a putto holding leaves; a cornucopia; two cherubs with a flaming heart; a skeleton on a tomb inscribed At Rest; a dolphin; an angel with two crosses; a crowned lion; a winged skull; a bull; the sun, moon and stars; a lyre and butterfly; flowers; clasped hands with a heart; a skull above a crown with inscriptions GLORIA and VANITAS; a putto with a lance; an elephant's head and trident; a sea animal in a shell.

Books of emblems and devices had been current since the Renaissance and such symbols were widely understood and used at the time.
Collection
Accession number
M.50-1967

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Record createdJuly 19, 2006
Record URL
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