Gifts of Grandeur: A Diamond Hair Ornament, 1820

Hair Ornament
Diamonds, Gold, Silver
English, 1820
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the early Nineteenth Century, the cultures of England, France and Italy became especially interested in natural themes and the beauty of plants and flowers. In England, this coincided with a renewed interest in Botany and also with the swell of both the Romantic Movement and the Rococo Revival.


Jewels were often employed in complicated recreations of flowers and plants. In the earliest parts of the century, these were usually diamond works set in gold or silver. By 1830, jewelers were becoming more adventurous and also sought a new level of realism with their designs by incorporated colored stones and enamel into their works.

This hair ornament from 1820 by an unknown English maker is an early example of the trend toward Nature-themed jewels. Dozens of diamonds of various shapes and sizes are set in silver, backed with gold and mounted on a gold armature. Worn at the back of the head, this ornament would have glittered magnificently in the candlelight. The piece could also be worn as a brooch.

The Reverse
Showing the Gold Backing and Clip