![]() It was used, of course, for centuries, but at that time the proportions between the precious stones and gold shifted. Gold became a dominant element in jewelry from the 1820s. 1820, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK. The large stones and the simplicity of design are typical of jewelry favored at the court of Napoleon. Most probably Napoleon Bonaparte and his consort Joséphine gave them to their adopted daughter, Stéphanie de Beauharnais, as a wedding gift in 1806. A parure is a matching suite of jewelry that consists of interchangeable pieces that expand the wearability of the set. This necklace and earrings are part of a larger set or parure of jewelry. 1806, France, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK. ![]() It does feel a touch too realistic, don’t you think?Įtienne Nitot et Fils, Necklace and earrings, ca. While it is beautiful to look at, I am not sure how comfortable I would be wearing it. For that reason, it appears a variety of contexts, from Italian cupolas (all-seeing eye of God), through Masonic Order, to the French police buckles and belts as a symbol of watchfulness. The eye is one of the oldest and most powerful symbols used by man. Sometimes, however, it could be disturbingly uncanny. Often, as here, the result is pleasing to the eye ( sic!). They originated in France and were an attempt to capture “the window of the soul,” the supposed reflection of a person’s most intimate thoughts and feelings. ![]() Lover’s eye brooch, 1800-1820, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK.Įye miniatures were briefly in fashion at the end of the 18th century. I Have My Eye on You… Or I Have Your Eye on Me? So, this article is just a taste of all the wonders you can see there. The Victoria and Albert jewelry collection includes a gold Celtic breastplate, jeweled pendants given by Elizabeth I to her courtiers, diamonds worn by Catherine the Great of Russia, jewelry by the Art Nouveau designer, Réné Lalique, diamond tiaras by Cartier, and contemporary works by Wendy Ramshaw, Peter Chang, and Marjorie Schick. One can always dream… Gold, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, stones in all colors of the rainbow and jewelry pieces with plenty of history. Every time I visit the museum, I make a point to also check out the collection, as if it was my jewelry box. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a stunning collection of jewelry. ![]()
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