Monday, August 12, 2013

Mastery of Design: The Italian Fleurs-de-lis Necklace, c. 1600



Necklace
Italy, c. 1600
The Victoria & Albert Museum



Sumptuous scrolls of enameled gold form this openwork necklace. Made circa 1600, the piece comes from Italy. A series of ornate crown-shapes are punctuated with fleurs-de-lis. The whole of the piece is set with table-cut rock crystal and hung with pearls.

We can’t be sure of the jeweler nor can we know for whom the piece was made, however, it’s a safe bet that this handsome necklace was made for a person of important standing—most likely the wife of a politician or statesman.




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