Pendant Cross
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. Many pieces seem too large to wear comfortably, but they are usually made of very thin gold, and are much lighter than they appear. Even the largest pieces weigh only a few grams.
Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian.
This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian.
This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Gold |
| Brief description | Large three-part pendant cross, Northern or Central Italy, 1800-1867. |
| Physical description | Large three-part pendant cross of sheet gold, cut out in a floral pattern, decorated with hollow faceted bosses. Engraved decoration on the front of each part. |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'CB' in oval frame (On front: on centre top of top section, on centre base of central section, and on centre base of cross section.)
|
| Production | Worn in northern or central Italy |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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. Many pieces seem too large to wear comfortably, but they are usually made of very thin gold, and are much lighter than they appear. Even the largest pieces weigh only a few grams. Huge pendants and earrings like this were worn throughout northern and central Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The design is based on older aristocratic jewellery, but the execution is uniquely Italian. This pendant was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Italian Jewellery as worn by the Peasants of Italy', Arundel Society, London, 1868, Plate 2
'The Paris Universal Exhibition, 1867', published by The Art Journal, London, 1868, p.325. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 314:1, 2-1868 |
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| Record created | November 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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