Design for Pendants, Plate 4 from 'Livre des Ouvrages d'Orfevrerie'
Gilles Légaré French
Engraver Louis Cossin French
Not on view
Just like today, historic jewelry design was influenced by trends. Faceted gemstones were popular in the sixteenth century, while early seventeenth-century jewelry was decorated chiefly in enamel. During the later decades of the seventeenth century, fashion called for diamonds. Opulent chandelier-style earrings and pendants with multiple dangling stones such as those depicted here became extremely popular. This print is part of jeweler Gilles Légaré’s Livre des ouvrages d’orfèvrerie, which showcases ingenious designs in which large diamonds and pearls appear to be held up by ribbons. Each jewel is depicted from both front and back to help fellow goldsmiths understand how the heavy stones could be attached in a secure and elegant manner.
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