Sunday, January 15, 2017

Heavy Gold

Brooch
USA
ca. 1900
gold, freshwater pearls, diamonds, demantoid garnets
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

GOLD  The most precious metal  characterized by a beautiful yellow color, non-liability to rust, high specific gravity, and great malleability and ductility.

1708  Susanna Centlivre. The Busie Body.
If wearing Pearls and Jewels, or eating Gold, as the old Saying is, can make thee happy, thou shalt be so.

1877  Sabine Baring-Gould. The Mystery of Suffering.
What a glorious world . . . what gold of gladness, what sunshine of felicity it affords. 

– definition and citations, Oxford English Dictionary

Ring
Western Europe
ca. 1300-1400
gold, sapphire, garnet
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Spain
ca. 1750
gold openwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Spain
ca. 1750
gold openwork, emeralds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
England
ca. 1850
gold, turquoises, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
England
ca. 1835
gold, garnets
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Earrings
England
ca. 1835
gold, garnets
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Coronet
Germany
ca. 1600
enameled-gold, emeralds, rubies, pearls
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Spain
late 17th century
gold openwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Earrings
Spain
late 17th century
gold openwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Spain
ca. 1700
gold openwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Spain
late 17th century
gold openwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Bodice-ornament
Spain
ca. 1700
gold scrollwork, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Bodice-ornament
Spain
ca. 1700-1715
gold openwork, emeralds
enamel flowers mounted on springs
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent images.