Mastery of Design: The Giuliano Victoria Pendant, 1877

Pendant with Portrait Medallion in Gold of Queen Victoria
Portrait by Durant
Pendant of Diamonds, Rubies and Enamel by Carlo Giuliano
England, 1877
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Queen Victoria presented this pendant to one of her godchildren—named for the Sovereign--Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Grey (died 1922) upon the occasion of the young woman’s marriage to Lt. Col. the Hon. Lewis Rayan Dawney on June 6, 1877.

Susan Durant modeled the profile of Queen Victoria. Durant was the pupil (and lover) of celebrated sculptor Henri Joseph François de Triqueti (1804-74).

The portrait was set into a pendant in the neo-Renaissance style, mounted in a gold frame enameled in blue, black and white, and set with diamonds and rubies. From the bottom, a pearl hangs from a diamond at the base of the frame. Carlo Giuliano (1826-1895) designed and made the pendant.

The piece is still housed in its original octagonal purple velvet case.

The reverse of the pendant is inscribed:

“To / V. A. E. D. / on her marriage / June 6th. 1877. / From the Queen.” 

The mark of Carlo Giuliani is visible--C.G in an oval.

Mastery of Design: The Giuliano Victoria Pendant, 1877

Pendant with Portrait Medallion in Gold of Queen Victoria
Portrait by Durant
Pendant of Diamonds, Rubies and Enamel by Carlo Giuliano
England, 1877
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Queen Victoria presented this pendant to one of her godchildren—named for the Sovereign--Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Grey (died 1922) upon the occasion of the young woman’s marriage to Lt. Col. the Hon. Lewis Rayan Dawney on June 6, 1877.

Susan Durant modeled the profile of Queen Victoria. Durant was the pupil (and lover) of celebrated sculptor Henri Joseph François de Triqueti (1804-74).

The portrait was set into a pendant in the neo-Renaissance style, mounted in a gold frame enameled in blue, black and white, and set with diamonds and rubies. From the bottom, a pearl hangs from a diamond at the base of the frame. Carlo Giuliano (1826-1895) designed and made the pendant.

The piece is still housed in its original octagonal purple velvet case.

The reverse of the pendant is inscribed:

“To / V. A. E. D. / on her marriage / June 6th. 1877. / From the Queen.” 

The mark of Carlo Giuliani is visible--C.G in an oval.

Mastery of Design: The Carlo Giuliano Pendant, 1867

Pendant
Carlo Giuliano for Harry Emanuel
C. 1867
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Let’s take a look at this attractive pendant upon the back of which the V&A has written the museum number. Why do they do this?

This pendant was made by Italian jeweler Carlo Giuliano. It is believed that it may have been shown at the international exhibition in Paris in 1867. An identical pendant was displayed at the 1867 exhibition by the jeweler and silversmith, Harry Emanuel. This fact was illustrated in the Art Journal magazine at the time. Giuliano, who launched his own firm in 1874, worked almost exclusively for Harry Emanuel at the time, so it’s a safe bet that this was the pendant that was displayed in 1867.

The vase-shaped pendant of enameled gold is decorated with table-cut rubies and features three enameled cherubs and three pendant drops set with diamond chips and hung with river pearls. A glass locket fitting at the back would have allowed the insertion of hair or other mementos.