Friday, January 13, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Dame Joan Evans Diamond Slide, 1700

The Victoria & Albert Museum



Glittering majestically after three-hundred years, this slide, made in 1700, was once in the important collection of Dame Joan Evans, and now sparkles in the V&A. It takes the form of a vase of flowers, set with table-cut diamonds in gold and silver, and hung with a luscious Baroque pearl.

It features a French import mark, stating that it came to Britain in 1893 through France. However, it is thought to have been made elsewhere with the cut of the diamonds suggesting Central Europe.

Worn originally on a ribbon as dictated by Eighteenth Century fashion, the slide would later have adorned a chain of gold.

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