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

Earring

ca.1840-60 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamelled gold, purpurine glass and micromosaic.
Brief description
Pair of earrings (matching set with 1996.1086), Rome, micromosaic, gold, glass, enamel., 1840-60.
Physical description
A pair of tear-shaped drop earrings hanging from gold-mounted red glass ovals. Each earring is composed of an oval micromosaic plaque, set in red purpurine glass and further set into a frame of scrolling gold decorated with black and white enamel. Each micromosaic depicts an ancient Roman structure.
Dimensions
  • Length: 7.0cm
  • Width: 2.7cm
Gallery label
6. Necklace and earrings 1840-60 Micromosaics like these reflected a typical 19th-century interest in antiquity. Smaller objects depicting iconic Roman sites became popular souvenirs that visitors would bring back from their travels. Rome, Italy; Luigi Freschi (active 1840-80) Enamelled gold, purpurine glass and micromosaic Museum nos. Loan:Gilbert.157 & 158-2008(17/03/2021)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Previous owners: Hoffman & Lowe, Beverly Hills, 1974.
Production
Freschi made the setting.
Summary
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Hanisee, Jeanette Gabriel.Micromosaics, 2000, London : Philip Wilson in association with the Gilbert Collection, 2000 no. 178
Other numbers
  • MM 184 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1996.1116 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • MM 297 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.157:2-2008

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Record createdJune 19, 2008
Record URL
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