Necklace
This gold chain has five oval enameled pendants depicting personifications of Europe and the Seasons. Each oval is framed in diamonds interspersed with long stylized palmette-shaped pendants, and forty-one leaf-shaped pendants, decorated with granulation and wirework suspended from alternately plain and coiled tubular links.
The use of granulation and images of classical maidens, as well as the overall organization, demonstrate the designer's dependence upon ancient Greek gold jewelry for inspiration. Like the Castellani firm in Rome, Eugène Fontenay reproduced jewelry in ancient Greek, Roman, and other historical styles. However, not only did Fontenay copy period originals, he also took motifs from these styles and, with them, created original designs.
The use of granulation and images of classical maidens, as well as the overall organization, demonstrate the designer's dependence upon ancient Greek gold jewelry for inspiration. Like the Castellani firm in Rome, Eugène Fontenay reproduced jewelry in ancient Greek, Roman, and other historical styles. However, not only did Fontenay copy period originals, he also took motifs from these styles and, with them, created original designs.
Artwork Details
- Title: Necklace
- Artist: Eugêne Fontenay (French, 1823–1887)
- Date: ca. 1870
- Culture: French, Paris
- Medium: Gold, enamel and diamonds
- Dimensions: L. 16-3/8 in. (41.6 cm.)
- Classifications: Jewelry, Metalwork-Gold and Platinum
- Credit Line: Gift of Dorothy Burr Thompson, 1987
- Object Number: 1987.252
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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Eugêne Fontenay
mid–late 19th century
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier
Charles-François Rossigneux
1861
Multiple artists/makers
1881
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier
Charles-François Rossigneux
1862
François-Desiré Froment-Meurice
ca. 1850
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