Four designs for bracelets with stylized flowers and leaves, pearls, and scrolling motifs

ca. 1830–70
Not on view
Four drawings in graphite of designs for bracelets, in the style of the French School of the 19th century, designed for the French jewelry company Mellerio-Borgnis. Each drawing was created on a separate sheet of semi-transparent paper, all adhered to the same page of the album. The first design consists of an S-curve made up of round pearls of different diameters, surrounded by C-curved scrolling motifs and stylized leaves, and flanked by two strips joined by pairs of small C-curves. The decond design consists of a bundle of stylized leaves and flowers, with offsetting, undulating branches to the sides, inside two horizontal strips. The third design consists of a knot made up of interlacing branches, and containing a bundle of scrolling, stylized leaves, and stylized flowers with pearls as pistils, flanked to the sides by two horizontal strips that make up the body of the bracelet. The fourth design consists of a bangle with an opening in the front, which is filler by scrolls, stylized leaves, and round pearls. The physical jewels from these designs would have likely been manufactured using gold or silver, and probably using brilliants, diamonds, or other (semi-) precious stones to add color and shine to the designs.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Four designs for bracelets with stylized flowers and leaves, pearls, and scrolling motifs
  • Artist: F. Mellerio Borgnis
  • Date: ca. 1830–70
  • Medium: Graphite
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 11 3/4 × 8 3/8 in. (29.9 × 21.2 cm)
    Album: 8 11/16 in. × 12 in. × 1 3/8 in. (22 × 30.5 × 3.5 cm)
  • Classifications: Albums, Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Raphael Esmerian, 1957
  • Object Number: 57.662.4(21)
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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