Thursday, January 12, 2017

Plundered Topazes

Earrings
Netherlands
ca. 1650-75
diamonds set in silver, topazes set in gold
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Portugal
ca. 1750
citrines and yellow topazes set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Curators at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London point out that Brazilian topazes were imported to Europe by the Portuguese in vast quantities and became vastly fashionable during the eighteenth century.

Pendants
Spain
ca. 1750
diamonds, topazes and emeralds set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Portugal
ca. 1750
openwork silver set with diamonds and pink topazes
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Bracelet Clasps
Spain
ca. 1750
openwork silver set with topazes
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Earrings
Spain
ca. 1750
silver, diamonds, topazes
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Bodice-ornament
Portugal
ca. 1770
topazes and rock-crystal set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
Western Europe
ca. 1740-50
imitation glass topazes (paste) set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
Western Europe
18th century
chrysoberyls and pink topazes set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Bodice-ornament
Portugal
ca. 1760
chrysoberyls set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Earrings
Portugal
ca. 1780-1800
white topazes set in silver
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
England
ca. 1815
topaz, emeralds, pearls set in gold
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
England
ca. 1835-50
stamped metal set with topazes and chrysoberyls
Victoria & Albert Musem, London

Brooch
England
ca. 1860
garnets and white topazes set in gold
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent images.