Renaissance

August 7, 2009 Glossary

… the Renaissance was a cultural movement that began in Florence in the Late Middle Ages, eventually spreading throughout Europe.

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Gold Box Presented to Cyrus W Fields by New York City

August 7, 2009 Boxes

New York greeted Field with wild rejoicing, and the city authorities set September 1, 1858, as a day of celebration to give him an official public ovation. The celebration surpassed anything the city had ever before witnessed. Then the mayor of New York gave an address honoring Mr. Field and presented him with a gold box …

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Austrian Art Nouveau Jewelry A Critical Examination Part I

August 7, 2009 Art Nouveau

We in Austria have greater leanings to France than to America, and precious stones, however great their intrinsic value, are looked upon as of quite secondary value in modern art-work to beauty of line and of colour. French influence on Austrian work cannot fail to be recognised.

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Austrian Art Nouveau Jewelry A Critical Examination Part II

August 7, 2009 Art Nouveau

… there is no doubt that there is far more activity in the production of jewellery for women in Vienna than in almost any other city. The culture of our town is, indeed, essentially feminine. The graceful and witty, yet dreamy and passionate, girls and women of Vienna give to it its distinctive character.

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Enamel

August 6, 2009 Glossary

… a vitreous glaze fused to its base by heat …

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Art Nouveau Silver Buckle by Theodore Lambert and Paul Templier

August 6, 2009 Buckles

… these are charming works of art, beautifully and harmoniously designed, and with lines balanced to perfection. They are, in fact, jewels meant to be worn …

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Antique Scottish Sugar Caster George II 1746

August 5, 2009 Georgian Period

The sugar-caster shown here belongs to the George II epoch of silver. Evidently the rich and varied styles extended to Scotland. The same impulses influenced both nations before the union; in date this is 1746.

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Nineteenth Century Jewelry Part I

August 4, 2009 Bracelet

Such things certainly form a very large part of the ornaments which appealed to Victorian taste, but also we find other classes of work which, while it never reaches a very high standard, yet has merits of its own.

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Niello

August 4, 2009 Glossary

A metallic composition of silver, lead, and sulphur. In appearance it is a black substance, somewhat resembling enamel, but it lacks the glassy surface and has a faintly metallic lustre.

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Amulets

August 4, 2009 Amulets

Small objects to which magical properties were attributed ; they were often Carried about the person in order to ward off evil spirits (or in some cases attract them).

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