Pendant Cross
1820-1867 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Italian women have always loved lavish display. Even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. Italian goldsmiths were expert at making a little material go a very long way. Many pieces seem too large to wear comfortably, but they are usually made of very thin gold, and are much lighter than they appear. Even the largest pieces weigh only a few grams.
Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian.
This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian.
This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Gold sheet |
| Brief description | Large foliated pendant of sheet gold ending in a stylised cross, Marche (Italy), 1820-1867. |
| Physical description | Large three-part pendant of thin sheet gold, pierced and engraved in a floral pattern, with raised hollow faceted domes. The lowest part is a stylised cross. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'CB' or 'GB'. (On each of the three main pieces, on the front.)
|
| Object history | Castellani Collection |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Italian women have always loved lavish display. Even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. Italian goldsmiths were expert at making a little material go a very long way. Many pieces seem too large to wear comfortably, but they are usually made of very thin gold, and are much lighter than they appear. Even the largest pieces weigh only a few grams. Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian. This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 9
'The Paris Universal Exhibition, 1867', published by The Art Journal, London, 1868, p.325 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 224:1, 2-1868 |
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| Record created | October 5, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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