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| Brooch France ca. 1755 dove with olive branch diamonds, rubies, emeralds set in silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Necklet France ca. 1760 silver openwork set with white and blue pastes Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
At the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the historical jewelry from France does not possess the large flamboyant stones of dazzling rarity that characterize many of the Museum's pieces from Spain and Portugal. Differences in social patterns account for much of the difference in what has survived. Curators impart the view that rapid fashion turnover in France – combined with political instability – meant that distinguished pieces were frequently broken up and reset, or else broken up and dispersed for ready money. The majority of great stones from Spain and Portugal had been donated by their owners to cathedral treasuries where they remained untouched until Museum officials arrived, persuading 19th-century Church officials to sell.
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| Necklet France ca. 1760s silver openwork set with marcasites and pink topazes Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Earrings France ca. 1750-1800 rock-crystal set in silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Pendant France ca. 1750-1800 rock-crystal set in silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Bodice-ornament France ca. 1620-30 enamelled gold set with diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Bodice-ornament France ca. 1650 enamelled gold set with diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Locket France ca. 1670 enamelled gold set with diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Brooch France ca. 1820-40 gold, diamonds, turquoises Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Brooch France ca. 1830 gold, emeralds, diamonds, turquoises Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Bracelet France ca. 1835 malachites set in gold Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Earrings France 1820s amethysts and pearls set in gold Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Earrings France ca. 1820 gold, set with emeralds, citrines, sapphires, garnets, rubies, aquamarines, peridots, pearls Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Brooch France 1860s onyx and half-pearls set in gold Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent images.