Sunday, September 11, 2011

Mastery of Design: The Saragosa Ornament, 1650

Ornament
French, 1650
Gold, Diamonds, Enamel
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum
I think this is just stunning. A gold breast or hair ornament, this jewel is enameled in blue and white and set with table-cut diamonds in the form of a bow and jabot which is pierced in imitation of lace.

The ornament was made in France around 1650 and eventually found its way to Spain. IT was part of a group of jewels which were presented in 1679 to the Treasury of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Pillar, Saragossa, by the Marquis de Nevarens.

The group of jewels was purchased by the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1870, when the Cathedral authorities auctioned off their treasures in order to raise funds to add a new structure to the Cathedral.





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