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27.8.12

Jewelry History in 17th Century – Baroque


It was absolutely a kind of luxury for women to refine themselves with jewelry during the 17th century. The form of arts and innovations in this period is described as Baroque”. The jewelry that distinguishes Baroque tended to be linear in design and mono tone in color. Bow and flower were the dominant motifs.

The 17th century marked an increase in the brandishing of jewelry that spread all over Europe. Large breast ornaments, jeweled pins and hairpieces designed with the finest and most extravagant jeweled pieces show new enthusiasm for impressive accessories that courts wore with regalia. Instead of wearing a bevy of jeweled pieces, rich people started wearing stunningly high-quality pieces. Louis XIV was the King of France, who wore jewelry to great excess in history.

Gold jewelry was extravagantly worn in this era. It was often decorated profusely with gemstones or suites of diamonds worn at weddings and social occasions. Brazil became the main source of diamonds. With the improving gem cutting technique, diamonds became apparent from basic point-and-table cut to the brilliant. Lighter and airier pieces of gemstones started being made to displace the large formal clusters of the gold-and-enamel craftsmanship prevailed in the 16th century. Jewelry of such kind was mostly imported from Hungary. And its skilled craftsmen came mostly from London, Soho, Covent Garden and Spitalfields in Britain.
 
Pearl necklace was fashionable neck ornament. Its popularity is proofed by its images appeared ubiquitously in the contemporary portraits, notably in the works of Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) and written materials. Pearls threaded into chokers, multiple-strands necklaces or long rope, with large gem-set pendants or fringes of pear-shaped pearl-drops sometimes. It was common for wearers to fasten the necklaces with ribbon tie. By the end of the century, they appeared with fastenings of gem-set clasps. Large amount of pearls were also made into necklaces or into wide bracelets (worn in pairs) or used in hair ornaments by royal households. Its profusion can be up to 2,000 large pearls or over 4,000 seed pearls on a single rope.

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