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Pendant

ca. 1865 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 19th century many designers used historical styles. This piece looks back to the elaborate pendants of the Renaissance with their colourful enamelled gold frames and central cameo portraits. Carlo Giuliano, who made the setting for the pendant about 1865, was inspired by designs of the 16th and 17th centuries. His jewellery company made delicate enamelled pieces that remained popular into the 20th century.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamelled gold, set with rubies, sapphires and pearls, and with a cameo of carved onyx
Brief description
Pendant, gold, enamelled & set with an onyx cameo of Marie de Medici by Georges Bissinger, setting by Carlo Giuliano, Britain, about 1865
Physical description
Pendant, enamelled gold set with rubies, sapphires and pearls, and with an onyx cameo portrait of Marie de Medici. The cameo signed: G. Bissinger, and numbered: 3204. Locket fitting at the back; drop with two pearls. The gold work bears Carlo Giuliano's first mark.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.4cm
  • Width: 4.5cm
  • Depth: 2cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'G. Bissinger' (Cameo, maker's signiature)
  • '3204' (Numbered on cameo)
  • 'CG' (On gold work, maker, Carlo Giuliano's, first mark.)
Credit line
Given by Carlo and Arthur Giuliano
Object history
The cameo portrait of Marie de Medici, Queen of France (1573-1642), is after a cameo in the Cabinet des Medailles, Paris. The cameo signed: G. Bissinger, and numbered: 3204. Locket fitting at the back; drop with two pearls. The gold work bears Carlo Giuliano's first mark.
Subjects depicted
Summary
In the 19th century many designers used historical styles. This piece looks back to the elaborate pendants of the Renaissance with their colourful enamelled gold frames and central cameo portraits. Carlo Giuliano, who made the setting for the pendant about 1865, was inspired by designs of the 16th and 17th centuries. His jewellery company made delicate enamelled pieces that remained popular into the 20th century.
Collection
Accession number
165-1900

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Record createdJanuary 6, 2003
Record URL
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