Earring
ca.1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Piqué is the name for tortoiseshell inlaid with silver and gold. This decorative technique was used for small luxury items such as snuff boxes and jewellery.
The tortoiseshell usually came from the hawksbill (caret) turtle. It was softened in boiling salted water before being moulded in heated dies . Two main decorative effects were used. In piqué posé, the pattern was engraved into the surface and filled with flakes or threads of precious metal. In piqué point, gold pins were inserted to form the design. All the objects in this case are formed by piqué posé.
Piqué was traditionally a French and Italian speciality . By the 1760s it had spread to England, where it was mass produced by Birmingham manufacturers from the 1870s.
The tortoiseshell usually came from the hawksbill (caret) turtle. It was softened in boiling salted water before being moulded in heated dies . Two main decorative effects were used. In piqué posé, the pattern was engraved into the surface and filled with flakes or threads of precious metal. In piqué point, gold pins were inserted to form the design. All the objects in this case are formed by piqué posé.
Piqué was traditionally a French and Italian speciality . By the 1760s it had spread to England, where it was mass produced by Birmingham manufacturers from the 1870s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold and silver |
| Brief description | Pair of piqué earrings, tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold and silver, 1830-1900 |
| Physical description | Pair of piqué earrings, tortoiseshell, inlaid with gold and silver |
| Dimensions |
|
| Summary | Piqué is the name for tortoiseshell inlaid with silver and gold. This decorative technique was used for small luxury items such as snuff boxes and jewellery. The tortoiseshell usually came from the hawksbill (caret) turtle. It was softened in boiling salted water before being moulded in heated dies . Two main decorative effects were used. In piqué posé, the pattern was engraved into the surface and filled with flakes or threads of precious metal. In piqué point, gold pins were inserted to form the design. All the objects in this case are formed by piqué posé. Piqué was traditionally a French and Italian speciality . By the 1760s it had spread to England, where it was mass produced by Birmingham manufacturers from the 1870s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.69&A-1916 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 3, 2006 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
