Earring
1800-1867 (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 and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian. This pendant was originally part of an earring. It has lost the stud from which it hung.
It was bought 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 and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian. This pendant was originally part of an earring. It has lost the stud from which it hung.
It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheet gold, engraved and faceted |
| Brief description | Earring pendant of sheet gold with hollow bosses, Abruzzi (Italy), 1800-1867. |
| Physical description | Pendant of an earring, made of openwork sheet gold, cut out in a floral pattern, with a central pear-shaped hollow faceted boss. Engraved decoration on the front. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | flower ? (On the front, in centre of central flower.) |
| 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 and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian. This pendant was originally part of an earring. It has lost the stud from which it hung. It was bought 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 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 209-1868 |
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| Record created | November 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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