Monday, April 30, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Castellani Etruscan Tiara


Tiara Wreath of Gold and Pearls
Castellani
The Victoria & Albert Museum




This lavish tiara was inspired by an Etruscan gold wreath which dated to about the 5th century BC, which is in the Campanari Collection acquired by the British Museum in 1841.

This is the work of the famed Italian jewelry firm, Castellani, which was founded in Rome by Fortunato Pio Castellani (1794-1865).   This masterpiece of gold and pearls takes the form of a myrtle wreath.  It is mounted on a velvet band.

The tiara once belonged to Emily, Dowager Countess of Crawford, who wrote in 1921, when she presented a necklace to the V&A, together with this wreath and a pair of earrings, that they had been made “from the design of Michelangelo, Duke of Sermoneta, in conjunction with Castellani.”



 

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