Magnificent pendant made of rubies, sapphires, diamonds and pearls, circa 1880

L'art Pour L'art

Magnificent pendant made of rubies, sapphires, diamonds and pearls, circa 1880

€ 3,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

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

Since the last third of the 19th century, the proud peacock has been the heraldic animal of all those who value beauty as the highest good. This was confirmed not least by the Victorian artist and dandy James McNeill Whistler, who in 1877, together with the architect Thomas Jeckyll, conceived and realized the magnus opum of aestheticism - the movement in art that was dedicated solely to beauty. The work in question is the installation Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, every detail of which has been carefully thought out. Narrow, gilded walnut shelves on which Asian vases stand stretch out in front of blue and green walls; Whistler painted the walls with golden peacocks, the look of which was inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. The peacock shown here, whose magnificent plumage is formed by precious stones, was also created around this time. The peacock proudly strikes its wheel and presents the viewer with feathers made of sapphires, rubies and natural pearls in various shades of white, cream and pink. Shimmering diamond roses cover the body, which arches towards us. Fine engravings structure the gold of the head and legs. The brooch design of the wheel-turning peacock on a pearl was first launched in 1867 at the Paris World Exhibition by Gustave Baugrand, the court jeweler of Napoleon III; see last illustration, see also DIVA Antwerp, Inv. no. DMK05/1. In the years that followed, various pieces of peacock jewellery inspired by this design were created. Our peacock can be dated to around 1880. Another comparison piece based on the Baugrand model is illustrated in Shirley Bury: Jewellery. The International Era, Vol. II: 1862-1910 (Antique Collector's Club, 1997), p. 586. Our piece was also originally designed as a brooch. Later, a hook was added instead, allowing the peacock to be worn as a pendant on a chain or silk ribbon. We were able to discover the luxurious animal as it is in London.

Size & Details

L'art Pour L'art

€ 3,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

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