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Necklace

Necklace

  • Place of origin:

    France (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1890 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Wièse, Louis, born 1852 - died 1923 (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Figures of enamelled gold (ronde-bosse enamel), with a central baroque pearl, set with table-cut diamonds and a cabochon ruby, and hung with a pendent pearl

  • Credit Line:

    Bequeathed by Deirdre Inches Carr

  • Museum number:

    M.15:1 to 3-1996

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, room 91, case 22, shelf B, box 2

  • Image in copyright

Many 19th century designers used historical styles. This necklace, made about 1890, looks back to the elaborate enamel and gold pendants of the Renaissance. In the 16th century, many goldsmiths used a large irregularly shaped (or baroque) pearl as part of the figure. They also decorated the front and back of the piece with equal care. Louis Wièse, who made this piece, and his father Jules ran an outstanding firm of jewellers in Paris. They specialised in works inspired by archaeological finds, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Physical description

Pendant of a mermaid. Her torso is a baroque pearl, the rest enamelled gold. Her spiralling double tail is set with table-cut diamonds, and on it stands an enamelled gold Cupid. With original gold chain and dark red leather case.
[Pendant] Mermaid pendant, gold & enamel; showing mermaid & cherub which is standing on the mermaids tail holding a flaming torch, with large pearl drop. Mark: 'WIESE' with the lozenge mark of Louis Wièse.
[Chain] Single link gold chain.

Place of Origin

France (made)

Date

ca. 1890 (made)

Artist/maker

Wièse, Louis, born 1852 - died 1923 (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Figures of enamelled gold (ronde-bosse enamel), with a central baroque pearl, set with table-cut diamonds and a cabochon ruby, and hung with a pendent pearl

Marks and inscriptions

[Pendant] 'WIESE' with a lozenge

Dimensions

Height: 37.3 cm including chain folded in half, Width: 3.3 cm, Depth: 1.4 cm
[Pendant] Height: 8.3 cm from top of enamelled ring on suspension link, Width: 3.3 cm, Depth: 1.3 cm
[Chain] Length: 60.1 cm

Descriptive line

Mermaid pendant and chain.
France, Paris, about 1880; made by Louis Wièse (1852-1923); gold, ronde-bosse enamel, baroque pearls, table-cut diamonds and a ruby

Production Note

Paris

Materials

Gold; Enamel; Diamond; Pearl; Ruby

Subjects depicted

Putti; Cupid; Mythology; Laurel wreaths; Necklace; Mermaid

Categories

Myths & Legends; Jewellery

Collection code

MET

Qr_O73132
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