Like the ladies of the previous centuries, and those of the future, 18th century women liked their jewelry! I like their jewelry too, collet necklaces, garnet parures, great sparkling stomacher brooches! After a long break from Closet Histories, lets ease back in by admiring some Georgian jewelry!
Georgian ladies wore necklaces, earrings, and brooches, but also shoe buckles, jeweled buttons, and chatelaines! Not always all at once of course, and sometimes for day jewelry was kept understated or none was worn at all. Ladies could also wear silk ribbons as necklaces when they felt real bling would be too showy, or was too far out of their price range. The first real costume jewelry began in the Georgian era, with "paste" aka glass gems set into less precious metals copying the look of finer jewels.
Georgian jewelry was often made in sets called parures, with matching and interchangeable pieces. Whether made of sparkling amethysts, gold and diamonds, or colorless glass, the charm of Georgian jewelry remains.
This silver necklace made up of enameled plaques had the option of changing out the plaques for others, giving the owner versatility. The enamels were probably intimidating turquoise which would have been more expensive.
The V&A says of this piece:
"This necklace would have fitted closely around the neck like a choker. Very sophisticated imitation jewellery was made in Europe in the 18th century, and it was sold by many of the leading jewellers. Before Australian opals became accessible, the opal was a rare stone. Here its shimmering beauty was achieved by setting a pink foil beneath a milky blue glass."
While royalty may have jewelry made of diamonds, lesser mortals made due with glass!
Stones, whether precious or mundane, were set with a metal foil back to make them sparkle and shine even more.
"The name Parure was first applied in the 17th century and referred to a set of three or more matching pieces of jewelry usually reserved for royalty or aristocrats. The old French word Parure means adornment. The height of the popularity of the Parure was between 1760 and 1830, the Neoclassic Period. This set dates to 1790 to 1800. The riviere (necklace) is decorated with 26 glistening pink topaz foil backed rock crystals ranging in size from 5/8" (1.6cm) to 3/8" ( 1 cm) and set in 15kt gold crimped collets. The necklace has a detachable pendant/brooch which has a height of 1 1/2" (3.75cm) has an integrated loop that enables it to be worn separately as a brooch or pendant or together with the drop suspended from the center of the necklace ."
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| The back of the above parure, showing how the stones are set and backed in gold. |
