Bracelet
ca. 1820-1830 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Cast-iron jewellery was an inexpensive but fashionable novelty for consumers in Europe and America from around 1800 to 1860. Developed in Germany in 1806–7 and often worn during mourning, it became the symbol of Prussian patriotism and resistance to Napoleon I in the Prussian War of Liberation fought from 1813-15. Women donated gold jewellery to their country in exchange for iron inscribed ‘I gave gold for iron’.
Early Berlin ironwork was Neo-classical in style, using motifs such as acanthus leaves, palmettes and cameos. James Tassie's glass pastes and Josiah Wedgwood's jasperware were copied for portraits and mythological scenes. The jewellery quickly gained an international profile. Demand peaked in the 1830s, when Berlin alone had 27 foundries and manufacture spread to France and Austria.
Early Berlin ironwork was Neo-classical in style, using motifs such as acanthus leaves, palmettes and cameos. James Tassie's glass pastes and Josiah Wedgwood's jasperware were copied for portraits and mythological scenes. The jewellery quickly gained an international profile. Demand peaked in the 1830s, when Berlin alone had 27 foundries and manufacture spread to France and Austria.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Cast iron and polished steel |
Brief description | Bracelet, cast iron and polished steel, openwork with stylised foliage, Berlin ca.1820 |
Physical description | Bracelet of cast iron openwork in oblong links with stylised foliage and cameo of warrior's head. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | 8. BRACELET, cast iron and polished steel, Germany; c.1815
Museum No. Circ.170-1917(07/1994) |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Cast-iron jewellery was an inexpensive but fashionable novelty for consumers in Europe and America from around 1800 to 1860. Developed in Germany in 1806–7 and often worn during mourning, it became the symbol of Prussian patriotism and resistance to Napoleon I in the Prussian War of Liberation fought from 1813-15. Women donated gold jewellery to their country in exchange for iron inscribed ‘I gave gold for iron’. Early Berlin ironwork was Neo-classical in style, using motifs such as acanthus leaves, palmettes and cameos. James Tassie's glass pastes and Josiah Wedgwood's jasperware were copied for portraits and mythological scenes. The jewellery quickly gained an international profile. Demand peaked in the 1830s, when Berlin alone had 27 foundries and manufacture spread to France and Austria. |
Bibliographic reference | Derek Ostergard and Martina D'Alton, ed.Cast iron from Central Europe, 1800-1850, New York, The Bard Graduate Centre, 1994, pp..290-293 |
Collection | |
Accession number | CIRC.170-1917 |
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Record created | November 1, 2007 |
Record URL |
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