Physical description
Pendant in the form of a salamander, suspended by two chains joined at a cartouche with a pearl drop. Its body is formed by a baroque pearl set in gold with blue enamel. In its mouth it holds a rod from which hangs an emerald pendant.
Place of Origin
Europe (west, made)
Date
late 16th century (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Enamelled gold, set with pearls and an emerald
Dimensions
Height: 7.1 cm, Width: 6.3 cm, Depth: 1 cm, Weight: 0.0027 kg
Object history note
Purchased by George Salting from 'Goldschmidt', and bequeathed to the V&A in 1910 as part of the Salting Bequest.
Goldschmidt could refer to J. and S. Goldschmidt of Frankfurt am Main (?)
Historical context note
Pendants were a popular type of jewellery in the Renaissance period and featured subjects with both religious and secular themes. Secular subjects, such as the salamander, carried symbolic meanings that would have been widely understood. The salamander was thought to have the ability to withstand fire and was a symbol of passionate love.
Pendants like this salamander, made up of a three-dimensional figure directly suspended by chains, became popular during the second half of the 16th century. They were worn by both men and women, usually at the end of a gold chain. They were intended to dangle freely and to be visible on both sides, as in this pendant where the form of the salamander is intricately decorated on both front and back.
The salamander’s shape has been formed around a large baroque pearl mounted in enamelled gold. Baroque pearls were an exotic import, associated with overseas exploration and trade. The irregularly shaped pearls were often used for the centre of the figure, their shape creatively utilised as the curve of the subject, the remainder of which was formed out of gold and enamel. The emerald that the salamander holds from its mouth is considered to be a 19th century addition.
A similar object is held in the Museo degli Argenti, Florence (Massinelli, p.228). This object comprises of a thin baroque pearl slice forming the back of the lizard, the limbs formed from gold and set with diamonds. It is attributed to Flanders, end of the 16th century.
Two pendants similar to M.537-1910 are held in a private collection in the Belgium (Taguchi, p.30-31). Both are lizards lying in an S-shaped curve, one features a baroque pearl as the reptile’s body.
Another similar salamander pendant (but without a baroque pearl at its centre) was in the possession of S. J. Phillips Ltd, London (Munn, p.45). The jewel is described as Spanish, dating from about 1600.
Among the objects recovered from the Girona shipwreck there is a related representation of a salamander in gold and set with rubies (Doran, cat.245)
Descriptive line
Pendant, in the form of a salamander, enamelled gold set with pearls and an emerald, West Europe, late 16th century.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Bury, Shirley. Jewellery Gallery Summary Catalogue. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. p.153, case 26, no.5
Phillips, Clare. Jewels and Jewellery. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2000, p.32.
Massinelli, Anna Maria. Treasures of the Medici. London: Thames and Hudson, 1992.
Taguchi, Katsuya et al. The Splendour of Diamond: 400 Years of Diamond Jewellery in Europe. Shusai Tokyo: Kokuritsu Habubutsukan, 2003, p.30- 31.
Geoffrey C. Munn. Triumph of Love: Jewellery 1530-1900. London: Thames and Hudson, 1993.
Doran, Susan. Elizabeth: the exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. London: Chatto & Windus in association with the National Maritime Museum, 2003.
Labels and date
PENDANT (a lizard)
Enamelled gold, set with pearls and an emerald.
WEST EUROPEAN: late 16th century
lent from the Salting Bequest
This is the full text from Bury, 1982, Case 26, no. 5
Production Note
The emerald suspended from the mouth of the salamander is a later addition (probably 19th century).
Materials
Gold; Enamel; Pearl; Emerald
Techniques
Enamelled
Subjects depicted
Salamander
Categories
Metalwork; Jewellery
Collection code
MET
