Earring
1800-1867 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Italian women have always loved lavish display. Even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. Italian goldsmiths were expert at making a little material go a very long way.
All Italian women wore gold earrings. If they could not afford real gold, they wore gilt metal. The shapes varied widely in different places. This earring comes from the Abruzzi. It is based on an 18th century girandole earring, but the use of imitation pearls made of glass is typical of traditional jewellery of the 19th century. If it was too heavy for the wearer, she could thread a ribbon through the loop at the top of the wire, to help relieve the strain on the ear-lobe.
It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867, where it was described as forming part of the traditional bridal gifts.
All Italian women wore gold earrings. If they could not afford real gold, they wore gilt metal. The shapes varied widely in different places. This earring comes from the Abruzzi. It is based on an 18th century girandole earring, but the use of imitation pearls made of glass is typical of traditional jewellery of the 19th century. If it was too heavy for the wearer, she could thread a ribbon through the loop at the top of the wire, to help relieve the strain on the ear-lobe.
It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867, where it was described as forming part of the traditional bridal gifts.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt and imitation pearl |
| Brief description | Silver-gilt girandole earring set with pearlised glass, Abruzzi (Italy), 1800-1867. |
| Physical description | Silver-gilt girandole earring set with imitation pearls, with hinged wire. There is a loop at the top of the hinge on the back. Pearls cracked and damaged. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Italian women have always loved lavish display. Even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. Italian goldsmiths were expert at making a little material go a very long way. All Italian women wore gold earrings. If they could not afford real gold, they wore gilt metal. The shapes varied widely in different places. This earring comes from the Abruzzi. It is based on an 18th century girandole earring, but the use of imitation pearls made of glass is typical of traditional jewellery of the 19th century. If it was too heavy for the wearer, she could thread a ribbon through the loop at the top of the wire, to help relieve the strain on the ear-lobe. It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867, where it was described as forming part of the traditional bridal gifts. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 198-1868 |
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| Record created | October 24, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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