Mastery of Design: The Dame Joan Evans Viennese Chain, 1650-1840

The Victoria & Albert Museum

I’d have loved to have seen Dame Joan Evans’ jewel case. Fortunately, much of her impressive collection of jewels are on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Let’s take a look an a gorgeous Austrian chain which was made originally in 1650.


A beautiful work of enameled gold links form a chain, the front face is set with rose-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The center four links made are original to the 1650 jewel, the end links were additions made in Vienna, about 1840.