Bracelet thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Bracelet

ca. 1876 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

By the 1850s bracelets had become an indispensable accessory. The French connoisseur Edmond Joly de Bammeville declared that the ‘daytime’ bracelet was the ‘main feature of national dress’ in England. Up to seven or eight of differing designs might be worn between the wrist and elbow on both arms. Alternatively, they could be worn in pairs and even over gloves.

Distinctions of rank, age, occasion and dress determined what jewellery could be worn and when. One etiquette manual stated that diamonds, pearls and emeralds were for full evening wear only. In the daytime, women were expected to wear less elaborate jewellery.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, pearls, lapis lazuli
Brief description
Gold, lapis lazuli, pearls, Western Europe, about 1876
Physical description
Gold half hoop bangle set with a rectangle of split pearls around a line of cabouchon cut lapis lazuli stones.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.3cm
  • Width: 6.4cm
  • Depth: 5.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'C.A. [sic] Glyn from / HRH Prince of Wales / "Serapis" 1876' (Engraved. Alice Coralie Glyn was the sister of R.R. Glyn .)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs Hole in memory of Bettine, Lady Abingdon
Object history
Engraved 'C.A. [sic] Glyn from/ HRH Prince of Wales/"Serapis" 1876'
Alice Coralie Glyn was the sister of R.R. Glyn
Summary
By the 1850s bracelets had become an indispensable accessory. The French connoisseur Edmond Joly de Bammeville declared that the ‘daytime’ bracelet was the ‘main feature of national dress’ in England. Up to seven or eight of differing designs might be worn between the wrist and elbow on both arms. Alternatively, they could be worn in pairs and even over gloves.

Distinctions of rank, age, occasion and dress determined what jewellery could be worn and when. One etiquette manual stated that diamonds, pearls and emeralds were for full evening wear only. In the daytime, women were expected to wear less elaborate jewellery.
Collection
Accession number
M.142-1987

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Record createdApril 1, 2008
Record URL
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