Spray Ornament
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Naturalistic jewellery, decorated with clearly recognisable flowers or fruit, emerged with the Romantic movement in the early 19th century. It remained popular for many decades. This large spray of assorted flowers has a pin fastening at the back and would have been worn as a bodice ornament. Some of the diamond flowers are set on springs, which would increase their sparkle considerably as the wearer moved. Over time the floral motifs grew in size and scale, and by the 1850s bouquets had taken on dramatic proportions. Individual flower sprays could be removed and used as hair ornaments.
Several jewellers at the Great Exhibition of 1851 showed jewelled bouquets of a similar size, although they were never in widespread use.
Several jewellers at the Great Exhibition of 1851 showed jewelled bouquets of a similar size, although they were never in widespread use.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Diamonds set in silver, backed with gold |
| Brief description | Bodice ornament in the form of a floral spray, diamonds set in silver, possibly made in England, about 1850 |
| Physical description | Bodice ornament in the form of a floral spray of roses, carnations and other flowers, brilliant-cut diamonds with a few rose-cut specimens set in silver and backed with gold. Some flowers mounted on springs to form 'tremblers'. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Cory Bequest |
| Object history | The three leaf and bud sprays made about 1830 and added later. The design is similar to French work of about 1820 - 30, but a bodice ornament of this type was shown by Hunt & Roskell of London at the Great Exhibition of 1851. |
| Production | The three leaf and bud sprays added from a piece of about 1830. A bodice ornament of this type was shown by Hunt & Roskell of London at the Great Exhibition of 1851. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Naturalistic jewellery, decorated with clearly recognisable flowers or fruit, emerged with the Romantic movement in the early 19th century. It remained popular for many decades. This large spray of assorted flowers has a pin fastening at the back and would have been worn as a bodice ornament. Some of the diamond flowers are set on springs, which would increase their sparkle considerably as the wearer moved. Over time the floral motifs grew in size and scale, and by the 1850s bouquets had taken on dramatic proportions. Individual flower sprays could be removed and used as hair ornaments. Several jewellers at the Great Exhibition of 1851 showed jewelled bouquets of a similar size, although they were never in widespread use. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.115-1951 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
