Necklace thumbnail 1
Necklace thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Necklace

ca. 1878 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This necklace and pendant were inspired by a Cypriot necklace (450-400 BC) and separate pendant (about 450 BC) from the Cesnola collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

General Louis Palma di Cesnola had found the cache of ancient jewellery, known as the Curium Treasure, while serving as American Consul to Cyprus in 1875. The Museum acquired the collection in 1876 and the prestigious jewellers Tiffany and Co copied a number of bracelets, earrings, rings and diadems. Examples shown at the 1878 Paris exposition helped earn the company its first gold medal for jewellery.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold
Brief description
Gold necklace with central gorgon's head pendant, Tiffany, New York, about 1878.
Physical description
Gold necklace composed of alternating beads and seed ornaments with a central gorgon's head pendant.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 18cm
  • Gorgon's head pendant height: 32mm
  • Seed ornament depth: 8mm
Style
Credit line
Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patricia V. Goldstein
Subject depicted
Summary
This necklace and pendant were inspired by a Cypriot necklace (450-400 BC) and separate pendant (about 450 BC) from the Cesnola collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

General Louis Palma di Cesnola had found the cache of ancient jewellery, known as the Curium Treasure, while serving as American Consul to Cyprus in 1875. The Museum acquired the collection in 1876 and the prestigious jewellers Tiffany and Co copied a number of bracelets, earrings, rings and diadems. Examples shown at the 1878 Paris exposition helped earn the company its first gold medal for jewellery.
Other numbers
  • LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.169-2003 - Previous loan number
  • 125 - Goldstein Collection number
Collection
Accession number
M.141-2007

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Record createdApril 29, 2008
Record URL
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