Sunday, November 6, 2011

Gifts of Grandeur: The Alexis Falize Locket, 1867

Locket
The Victoria & Albert Museum



The Parisian jeweller Alexis Falize made this locket around 1867. Falize was tremendously influenced by East Asian art and, especially, by cloisonné enamel work.


He used gold rather than the copper traditionally found in cloisonné work to create brilliantly intricate, delicate and colorful patterns. Many of his images - usually flowers and birds - were copied from Japanese prints, but here the flowers are in the Indian style.

This locket was made in his unique style of enamel and set with small diamonds.


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