Spray Ornament thumbnail 1
Spray Ornament thumbnail 2
+9
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Spray Ornament

1790-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This magnificent jewelled bouquet would have been worn on a lady’s bodice, attached with a removable metal hook. Bouquets of flowers were a fashionable theme in jewellery during the second half of the 18th century. They could be large and intricate pieces. We know that this one was originally owned by the Spanish noblewoman, Doña Juana Rabasa (wife of the Finance Minister of Charles IV of Spain). She gave it to the shrine of the Virgin of the Pillar at Saragossa.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Bouquet
  • Hook
Materials and techniques
Gold, enamelled, with rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds
Brief description
Spray bodice ornament of enamelled gold, set with diamonds, made in Spain, 1790-1800
Physical description
Spray ornament of a bouquet of flowers tied with a bow, enamelled gold with diamonds. The back fitted with a detachable hook for fastening to the bodice.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.3cm
  • Width: 9.4cm
  • Depth: 3.1cm
Style
Object history
From the treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Saragossa, to which it was presented by Doña Juana Rabasa, wife of the Minister of Finance to Charles IV of Spain (1788-1808). One of a group of jewels purchased by the Museum in 1870, when the Cathedral authorities sold off treasures presented to the shrine of the Virgin in order to complete their building programme.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This magnificent jewelled bouquet would have been worn on a lady’s bodice, attached with a removable metal hook. Bouquets of flowers were a fashionable theme in jewellery during the second half of the 18th century. They could be large and intricate pieces. We know that this one was originally owned by the Spanish noblewoman, Doña Juana Rabasa (wife of the Finance Minister of Charles IV of Spain). She gave it to the shrine of the Virgin of the Pillar at Saragossa.
Collection
Accession number
319-1870

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2003
Record URL
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