- Museum number
- 1978,1002.108.a
- Description
-
Necklace in cast-iron with nine 'cameos' in gold collet settings, linked by festoons of fine iron chain.
- Production date
- 1805 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 44.30 centimetres
-
Width: 3.20 centimetres (central cameo)
- Curator's comments
- Text from catalogue of the Hull Grundy Gift (Gere et al) no 169:
The 'cameos' are after various well-known classical and neo-classical intaglios, probably taken from one of the readily available cast collections which existed by this date. For example, the intaglio from which the medallion immediately to the left of the centre is taken is by Giovanni Pichler. A version is in the British Museum's collection (Dalton 1915, no. 664). The style and the type of fastener both suggest a date at the turn of the nineteenth century, soon after the setting up of the Berlin Foundry in 1804. (Charlotte Gere).
Supplement to catalogue entry:
Label: Festoon necklace, nine cast 'cameos' set in gold and linked by iron chains. The `cameos', a mixture of classical, renaissance and Neo-Classical subjects, include A bull being led to sacrifice (centre); Cupid and Psyche, after Pichler (see Intaglio in a gold swivel seal, Luigi Pichler, 1773-1854, working in Rome and Vienna. The banded chalcedony intaglio shows Psyche seated holding a vase with Cupid dancing, signed PICHLER in Greek characters); Venus reclining; Vulcan's Forge; A Sculptor carving a gigantic vase (symbolic of `Art'); from casts. (C.Gere)
The iron jewellery made in Berlin in the Napoleonic period, during the Prussian War of Independence (1812–14), had a patriotic purpose, exchanging precious gold and gemstones for iron; ‘Gold gab ich für Eisen’ (I gave gold for iron). From the patriotic perspective the material – iron – referenced the ‘Iron Cross’, a Prussian military award for services to the Fatherland, instituted on 10 March 1813 by King Friedrich William III, and designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, also designer of Berlin iron jewellery. (Charlotte Gere)
- Location
- On display (G47/dc8)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2019-2020, 8 Nov - 1 Mar, Denmark, Copenhagen, National Museum of Denmark, Germany: Memories of a Nation
2016-2017 7 Oct-9 Jan, Berlin, Martin-Gropius-Bau, The British View: Germany – Memories of a Nation
2014-2015 16 Oct-25 Jan, London, BM, G35, Germany: Memories of a Nation
- Acquisition date
- 1978
- Acquisition notes
- Cameo Corner, 26 Museum Street, London WC1. Original invoice for £35 to Anne Hull Grundy dated 8.9.1961, described as 'German cameo iron necklace'.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1978,1002.108.a
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: HG.108.a (masterlist number)
