Headband
1848 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The English architect A.W.N. Pugin designed only a small amount of jewellery. This headband is part of a larger parure (set) of jewels in the Gothic style. It is inspired by medieval ecclesiastical decoration and bears the inscription 'CHRISTI CRUX EST MEA LUX' (Christ's cross is my [guiding] light). Pugin designed it for the lady he proposed to make his third wife. The marriage did not take place. In 1848, he met and married Jane Knill and gave her the parure. In 1851 the complete parure was shown at the Great Exhibition in London as part of the Medieval Court.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled gold, set with a ruby, brilliant-cut diamonds, turquoises and pearls |
| Brief description | Headband, enamelled gold set with a ruby, diamonds, turquoises and pearls, designed by A. W. N. Pugin and made by John Hardman & Co., England (Birmingham), 1848 |
| Physical description | Headband, enamelled gold set with a ruby, brilliant-cut diamonds, turquoises and pearls, and inscribed 'CHRISTI CRUX EST MEA LUX' (Christ's cross is my [guiding] light). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'CHRISTI CRUX EST MEA LUX' (inscribed)
|
| Object history | Inscribed 'CHRISTI CRUX EST MEA LUX' (Christ's cross is my [guiding] light). Designed by A.W.N. Pugin (1812 - 1852) as part of a gothic parure for the lady whom he proposed to make his third wife. Jilted in 1848, he met and married Jane Knill in the same year, giving her the parure. Made by John Hardman & Company. The complete parure was shown at the great Exhibition of 1851. The Museum owns three items from it (including M.20-1962). |
| Summary | The English architect A.W.N. Pugin designed only a small amount of jewellery. This headband is part of a larger parure (set) of jewels in the Gothic style. It is inspired by medieval ecclesiastical decoration and bears the inscription 'CHRISTI CRUX EST MEA LUX' (Christ's cross is my [guiding] light). Pugin designed it for the lady he proposed to make his third wife. The marriage did not take place. In 1848, he met and married Jane Knill and gave her the parure. In 1851 the complete parure was shown at the Great Exhibition in London as part of the Medieval Court. |
| Associated object | M.20-1962 (Set) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.10-1962 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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