Pendant thumbnail 1

Pendant

1860-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This pendant made in the nineteenth century in the Renaissance Revival style has a lapis lazuli base intended to be engraved with an intaglio like a seal, but in fact the stone was uncut, and the pendant remains purely decorative.

The figure of the mermaid is formed around a large baroque pearl, like some Renaissance pendants made during the sixteenth century which were much admired by the artist goldsmiths and the collectors of the nineteenth century. Renaissance pendants were appreciated as small-scale sculptures which displayed the arts of the modeller, chaser, enameller and jeweller. The greatest compliment that could be paid to a goldsmith in the middle of the 19th century was to compare him to the celebrated Florentine sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500-71).

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold, enamel and a baroque pearl, the base set with lapis-lazuli
Brief description
Mermaid pendant, gold, enamel and a baroque pearl, the base set with lapis-lazuli, Western Europe, 1860-80.
Physical description
Enamelled gold figure, the body formed around a baroque pearl. The base is set with a lapis lazuli which has not been cut with any design.
Dimensions
  • Height: 60mm
  • Width: 30mm
  • Depth: 20mm
Style
Credit line
Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patricia V. Goldstein
Subject depicted
Summary
This pendant made in the nineteenth century in the Renaissance Revival style has a lapis lazuli base intended to be engraved with an intaglio like a seal, but in fact the stone was uncut, and the pendant remains purely decorative.

The figure of the mermaid is formed around a large baroque pearl, like some Renaissance pendants made during the sixteenth century which were much admired by the artist goldsmiths and the collectors of the nineteenth century. Renaissance pendants were appreciated as small-scale sculptures which displayed the arts of the modeller, chaser, enameller and jeweller. The greatest compliment that could be paid to a goldsmith in the middle of the 19th century was to compare him to the celebrated Florentine sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500-71).
Other numbers
  • LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.142-2003 - Previous loan number
  • 98 - Goldstein Collection number
Collection
Accession number
M.131-2007

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Record createdMay 1, 2008
Record URL
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