Heart-Shaped Brooch
ca. 1400-1425 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
An ever popular symbol of love was a heart, either as used as here, the shape of the jewel itself , or as a decorative motif. The inscription on this brooch, meaning 'without being parted' invokes both the themes of fidelity and of love. A brooch was used to fasten a garment,but also symbolically protected the wearer from amatory advances. In this sense brooches might be worn as symbols of fidelity or chastity. Brooches could also be symbols of love and desire. A lady giving her brooch as a love token was a symbol of her accepting the amorous petitions of an admirer.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold, engraved; enamel |
| Brief description | Gold heart-shaped brooch with black letter inscription, England or France, ca. 1400-1425 |
| Physical description | Brooch, heart-shaped, gold, traces of enamel. On the reverse the surface is concave, with traces of white enamel; on the front is engraved in black letter '* sanz de partir' ('Without being parted'), the words interspersed with floral sprigs and terminating in a rosette. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'sanz / de/ partier' (Inscribed in French, in black letter)
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| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | An ever popular symbol of love was a heart, either as used as here, the shape of the jewel itself , or as a decorative motif. The inscription on this brooch, meaning 'without being parted' invokes both the themes of fidelity and of love. A brooch was used to fasten a garment,but also symbolically protected the wearer from amatory advances. In this sense brooches might be worn as symbols of fidelity or chastity. Brooches could also be symbols of love and desire. A lady giving her brooch as a love token was a symbol of her accepting the amorous petitions of an admirer. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.40-1975 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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