Sunday, November 11, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Grundy Bodice Ornament, c. 1650

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Hull Grundy Bodice Ornament
Spain, Seventeenth Century
The British Museum


This bodice ornament of gold is set with table-cut emeralds and diamonds. The upper section of the piece features an openwork design in a bow form incorporating foliate tendrils and volutes. This is hinged to a section which works the initial “S” in pierced openwork.

The reverse of the jewel is enameled in pink and black on a ground of white in a floral pattern.

At one point, this piece was in the collection of Dame Joan Evans, but ended up in the catalogue of Hull Grundy who presented this as part of a large gift to the British Museum. It’s believed that the ornament has significance to a Spanish religious confraternity.



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