Earring
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.
These earrings were bought for £2 16s the pair 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.
These earrings were bought for £2 16s the pair 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 | Sheet gold |
| Brief description | Pair of earrings of sheet gold with raised bosses, Italy, 1820-1867. |
| Physical description | Pair of earrings, consisting of a hollow dome on a hinged wire. Pendant of thin sheet gold, pierced and engraved in a floral pattern, with a central pear-shaped hollow boss, hanging from the wire. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'GV' in horizontal lozenge-shaped frame (On wire, and on front, in centre of one of the flowers. Mark of unidentified maker.) |
| 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. These earrings were bought for £2 16s the pair 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 1 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 399&A-1868 |
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| Record created | February 8, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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