Not currently on display at the V&A

Earring

1850-1872 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The 1851 Great Exhibition inspired a series of 'London International Exhibitions' which took place in South Kensington in 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. Fine arts and scientific inventions and discoveries remained central display themes but each exhibition presented different aspects of manufacture. In 1872 one emphasis was on jewellery, including 'peasant jewellery'. The Exhibition Commissioners arranged with the South Kensington Museum (later V&A) to make a collection of peasant jewellery from 'all parts of the world, which should become public property, for exhibition in the Museum after the close of the Exhibition'. A letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to British representatives overseas asking for their help in securing pieces of jewellery, particularly examples with 'a direct connection with the native instinctive art, which has been handed down by a long tradition'. The outcome was considered to be 'most satisfactory … a collection of characteristic ornaments never before equalled was obtained'.

This pair of earrings is part of this collection. The earrings were made in Egypt and are formed of brass wire and glass beads.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Earring
  • Earring
Materials and techniques
Brass wire with tubular red glass beads
Brief description
Pair of brass earrings with six tubular red glass pendants, Egypt, 1850-1872.
Physical description
Pendent earring made from a ring of wire with one end twisted to form a row of six loops at the bottom of the ring. Each loop holds a pendant of a red tubular glass bead strung on a length of wire.
Object history
Acquired by the Exhibition Commissioners of the London International Exhibition of 1872 as an example of 'peasant jewellery' and then transferred to the South Kensington Museum.
Summary
The 1851 Great Exhibition inspired a series of 'London International Exhibitions' which took place in South Kensington in 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. Fine arts and scientific inventions and discoveries remained central display themes but each exhibition presented different aspects of manufacture. In 1872 one emphasis was on jewellery, including 'peasant jewellery'. The Exhibition Commissioners arranged with the South Kensington Museum (later V&A) to make a collection of peasant jewellery from 'all parts of the world, which should become public property, for exhibition in the Museum after the close of the Exhibition'. A letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to British representatives overseas asking for their help in securing pieces of jewellery, particularly examples with 'a direct connection with the native instinctive art, which has been handed down by a long tradition'. The outcome was considered to be 'most satisfactory … a collection of characteristic ornaments never before equalled was obtained'.

This pair of earrings is part of this collection. The earrings were made in Egypt and are formed of brass wire and glass beads.
Bibliographic reference
List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum, acquired during the year 1873, London: George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode
Collection
Accession number
1503&A-1873

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 28, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest