Bracelet worn by Jenny Lind as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's La Sonnambula thumbnail 1
Bracelet worn by Jenny Lind as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's La Sonnambula thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Bracelet worn by Jenny Lind as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's La Sonnambula

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

This necklace and its matching bracelet were given to Elizabeth Sophia Lovisa von Platen, the donor's great great grandmother, in Stockholm in the late 1840s. They belonged to the Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria Lind (1820-1887), known as Jenny Lind, who wore them as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's opera La Sonnambula. When the famous singer was invited to tea with Elizabeth's parents, the little girl was not allowed to be present. Cross at being excluded, the little girl hid under the table, and when she was found, was told off and was very upset. Jenny Lind felt so sorry for her that she took off the bracelet and matching necklace and gave them to her. They were passed from mother to daughter until Lee Persson gave them to the museum in April 1987 when she came to the museum and saw the Jenny Lind display in the galleries.

Jenny Lind's first major role was as Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz in 1838 at the Royal Swedish Opera, and her exquisite voice made her in demand all over Europe in the 1840s. Her first appearance in London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1847, in an Italian version of Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable attended by Queen Victoria, saw people thronging the streets to get a glimpse of her. A concert tour of the United States managed by P.T. Barnum in 1850-1851 also saw her become well know there as 'the Swedish Nightingale'. She retired from the stage when she returned to Europe in 1852 but continued to make concert appearances and made her home in London where she was appointed a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBracelet worn by Jenny Lind as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's La Sonnambula (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved and stained ivory with silver links
Brief description
Bracelet owned by Jenny Lind (1820-1887); part of a set with a matching necklace, worn by her in La Sonnambula. Stained carved ivory and silver. Probably Swedish, ca.1840
Physical description
Bracelet with 6 carved ivory roses of varying sizes, stained pink, linked together with silver links and a silver rose between each pink rose.
Dimensions
  • Length: 18.5cm
  • Width of largest roses width: 2.2cm
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
This necklace and its matching bracelet were given to Elizabeth Sophia Lovisa von Platen, the donor's great great grandmother, in Stockholm in the late 1840s. They belonged to the Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria Lind (1820-1887), known as Jenny Lind, who wore them as Amina in Vincenzo Bellini's opera La Sonnambula. When the famous singer was invited to tea with Elizabeth's parents, the little girl was not allowed to be present. Cross at being excluded, the little girl hid under the table, and when she was found, was told off and was very upset. Jenny Lind felt so sorry for her that she took off the bracelet and matching necklace and gave them to her. They were passed from mother to daughter until Lee Persson gave them to the museum in April 1987 when she came to the museum and saw the Jenny Lind display in the galleries.

Jenny Lind's first major role was as Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz in 1838 at the Royal Swedish Opera, and her exquisite voice made her in demand all over Europe in the 1840s. Her first appearance in London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1847, in an Italian version of Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable attended by Queen Victoria, saw people thronging the streets to get a glimpse of her. A concert tour of the United States managed by P.T. Barnum in 1850-1851 also saw her become well know there as 'the Swedish Nightingale'. She retired from the stage when she returned to Europe in 1852 but continued to make concert appearances and made her home in London where she was appointed a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.525-1987

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Record createdMarch 10, 2009
Record URL
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