Gifts of Grandeur: The Countess Harley Teleki Heart Brooch, 1610-20

Brooch of gold, enamel, rubies, diamonds and emeralds, 1610-20
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A brooch such as this would have been given as a token of love. Made between 1610 and 1620, it features a design of a heart pierced by arrows—a reference to Cupid which was widely used from the Renaissance onward. This jeweled brooch is also a locket which was probably made in Prague, in a workshop of the Imperial Habsburg court.

The piece is crafted of enameled gold, set with table-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The emeralds are unique in that they are centrally bezel-set with small cabochon rubies.  In the center, a ruby is set within a heart-shaped gold frame and pierced by two arrows. The locket in the reverse of the jewel contains the miniature portrait in enamel of an unknown man behind a wee door which has been enamelled with red roses. The piece was once in the collection of the Countess Harley Teleki. 

Gifts of Grandeur: The Countess Harley Teleki Brooch, 1610 and 1620

Brooch
1610-1620
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This jeweled locket of enameled gold is set with table-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. As a truly stunning centerpiece, the largest ruby is set in a heart-shaped gold frame and pierced by two arrows. A smartly enameled locket in the back of the jewel contains the miniature portrait of a man.

Such a brooch would have been presented by a man to his love. This example was made in Prague between 1610 and 1620. Cupid, the cherubic son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, was as popular a symbol of love in the Seventeenth Century as he is today. In fact, he’s been shooting arrows into hearts for many centuries and reached a new height in popularity during the Italian Renaissance. 

Gifts of Grandeur: The Countess Harley Teleki Heart Brooch, 1610-20

Brooch of gold, enamel, rubies, diamonds and emeralds, 1610-20
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A brooch such as this would have been given as a token of love. Made between 1610 and 1620, it features a design of a heart pierced by arrows—a reference to Cupid which was widely used from the Renaissance onward. This jeweled brooch is also a locket which was probably made in Prague, in a workshop of the Imperial Habsburg court.

The piece is crafted of enameled gold, set with table-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The emeralds are unique in that they are centrally bezel-set with small cabochon rubies.  In the center, a ruby is set within a heart-shaped gold frame and pierced by two arrows. The locket in the reverse of the jewel contains the miniature portrait in enamel of an unknown man behind a wee door which has been enamelled with red roses. The piece was once in the collection of the Countess Harley Teleki.

Gifts of Grandeur: The Countess Harley Teleki Brooch, 1610 and 1620

Brooch
1610-1620
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This jeweled locket of enameled gold is set with table-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. As a truly stunning centerpiece, the largest ruby is set in a heart-shaped gold frame and pierced by two arrows. A smartly enameled locket in the back of the jewel contains the miniature portrait of a man.

Such a brooch would have been presented by a man to his love. This example was made in Prague between 1610 and 1620. Cupid, the cherubic son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, was as popular a symbol of love in the Seventeenth Century as he is today. In fact, he’s been shooting arrows into hearts for many centuries and reached a new height in popularity during the Italian Renaissance.