Monday, September 16, 2013

Mastery of Design: The Convulvulus Brooch, 1835


This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum



Today's jewel is a Brooch in the form of a convulvulus flower made of gold with pavé-set turquoises and pearls. This combination of densely set turquoises and pearls is so indicative of jewelry design of the 1830s when this look was the epitome of fashion. This particular example comes from 1835.


Turquoise was given as a gift of fidelity while the imagery of the convolvulus flower was thought to symbolize "bonds" or "extinguished hopes."




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