Pendant thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Pendant

1750-1799 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 17th century, new ways of cutting gems, particularly diamonds, led to a new style of jewellery throughout Europe, in which the gems themselves had greater prominence. This pendant, made from sheet gold cut and engraved in a complex openwork floral design and set with facetted diamonds in closed settings, is typical of that trend. This specific pattern, known as a laça (meaning lace bow), was popular in Portugal throughout the 18th century, and continued in use in the 19th century, when it became part of the traditional costume. Similar pendants were made in Spain but the little bridge over the loop which holds the lower pendant is typical of Portuguese work.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gold openwork set with rose-cut diamonds
Brief description
Gold openwork two-part pendant set with rose-cut diamonds, Guimarães (Portugal), 1750-1799.
Physical description
Two-part gold pendant set with rose-cut diamonds in closed settings. Each part is made from an elaborate openwork floral design cut from sheet gold in several layers.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.5cm
  • Width: 4.6cm
  • Depth: 0.7cm
Summary
In the 17th century, new ways of cutting gems, particularly diamonds, led to a new style of jewellery throughout Europe, in which the gems themselves had greater prominence. This pendant, made from sheet gold cut and engraved in a complex openwork floral design and set with facetted diamonds in closed settings, is typical of that trend. This specific pattern, known as a laça (meaning lace bow), was popular in Portugal throughout the 18th century, and continued in use in the 19th century, when it became part of the traditional costume. Similar pendants were made in Spain but the little bridge over the loop which holds the lower pendant is typical of Portuguese work.
Bibliographic reference
For a similar pendant, see: d'Orey, Leonor, 'Five centuries of Jewellery', Zwemmer, London, 1995, ISBN 0302006605, figs. 86, 87.
Collection
Accession number
14-1866

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Record createdJuly 28, 2006
Record URL
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