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Victorian Demi-Parure of Brooch & Earrings With Shell Cameos, ca. 1880

€ 2,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

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Victorian Demi-Parure of Brooch & Earrings With Shell Cameos, ca. 1880

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

In the second half of the 19th century, travelling to Italy was no longer the privilege of a few aristocrats. The experience of seeing and experiencing the ruins of antiquity for themselves had inspired men and women throughout Europe since the late Middle Ages. But for a long time only a few had been allowed to travel, and even fewer could afford it. Even in Goethe's time, a stay in the warm south was a privilege and, as an educational trip, was intended to serve higher purposes. In the course of the 19th century a democratization began. More and more citizens travelled to Italy, to Rome and Naples, and in addition to the goal of experiencing the monuments of antiquity and marvelling at the works of art of the Renaissance, the pleasure was also added. The first "grand hotels" were built for a pleasant stay by the sea and in the city. The fashions of Europe mixed and became international. It was not only Thomas Mann who, with his "Death in Venice", created a monument to the summer resort society of this time. Of course, souvenirs were also created. The cameo carvers in the Bay of Naples, for example, were highly specialized and skilled in the depiction of goddesses and gods from classical antiquity. But still not every art lover from the north could travel to Italy, because money and or time were often not enough - and instead the jewels from Italy travelled to the north, ordered by jewellers to make them available also north of the Alps. A fine example of such a set of shell cameos of the late 19th century, certainly made in Italy, is presented here. The elegant demi-parure, a set of matching earrings and brooch, was most likely made in the Bay of Naples in the years around 1880 and was fitted with gold settings and a matching case in England. As the subject of the cameos we see the goddess Flora in profile. Young, beautiful and graceful, Flora was the ancient goddess of spring and flowers. Artists depicted Flora in a manner similar to a Greek springtime glory, as a maiden adorned with flowers - and that is precisely the form in which we encounter her here. The brooch in particular depicts the goddess in plastic three-dimensionality. Thus, various blossoms are cut into the shell and adorn the upswept hair of Flora: roses and funnel vine are found here as buds and in full bloom. A typical jewellery set from the last third of the 19th century, when the demi-parure consisting of brooch and matching earrings could be found in every better jewellery wardrobe.

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Every traveller of the Grand Tour reached Naples sooner or later on his journey through Italy. The dream destination of the mostly young men in the years around 1800 overwhelmed with its location on the gulf, the spectacular view of Mount Vesuvius, the gentle climate, its rugged yet enchanting cityscape and - last but not least - its rich, immortal art treasures of antiquity. From the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which perished in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, so many spectacular art treasures had already been brought to Naples in the 18th century that the museums here enjoyed world fame. Visiting them was a must in the city. And of course no one missed out on a visit to Pompeii itself with its macabre charm. No wonder, then, that souvenirs of this trip were not to be missed: A local art industry arose, which produced especially gemstones of the best quality from corals, shells and coloured local stone varieties, which were sold as "lava" of the volcano.

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Size & Details

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€ 2,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

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