Enseigne. A jewel worn in the hat, that was very popular during the Renaissance Period. It generally had some kind of symbolical or emblematic meaning, which gave it a personal application to the wearer.




Enseignes were also worn by ladies in the hair. They were generally circular in shape, and often exquisitely jewelled and enameled. They differed from brooches by being fastened into their places by being sewn, the stitches passing through added loops or holes in the ornament. Cellini’s account of enseignes as made in his day is most interesting:

“At that time a sort of small gold medal was fashionable upon which it was customary for noblemen and gentlemen to cause to be engraved certain devices and fancies of their own, and they commonly wore them upon their caps. I made several things of this sort, but found such works very difficult : the celebrated artist Caradosso would not take less than a hundred crowns for one of them, because they contained numerous figures. I was therefore employed (not so much on account of the greatness of his price as his slowness in working) by some gentlemen for whom I made several medals in emulation of this renowned artist, amongst them one on which were four figures, with which I took uncommon pains.”