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Golden Gems!
Title: Pansy Brooch
French (maker: R. J. Lalique), ca. 1903
Gold, plique-à-jour enamel, glass, and sapphire;
Dimensions: 3 2/8 in.
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Acquired by Henry Walters, 57.943
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Bedazzled:
5,000 Years of Jewelry
from the Walters Art Museum
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
through Jan 14, 2007
Title: Iris Corsage Ornament
American (maker: Tiffany and Co.), ca. 1900
Medium: Gold, oxidized silver, platinum, sapphires, topaz, diamonds, and demantoid garnets;
Dimensions: 2 6/8 in.
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Acquired by Henry Walters, 57.939
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Diamonds are a girl's best friend. This cliché may come to mind as visitors enjoy the exquisite
traveling exhibition of the Walters Art Museum, featuring
over 5,000 years of Jewelry, currently on display at the Frist Center.
Title: Diamond necklace
American (maker: Tiffany and Co.), ca. 1904
Medium: Diamonds, gold, and platinum;
Dimensions: 7 4/8 in.
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gerson Eisenberg, in memory of Abram and Helen Eisenberg, 57.2121
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
“This is one of the world’s great collections of jewelry,” said Frist Center
Executive Director Dr. Susan H. Edwards. “From ancient times to the present
humans have worn jewelry for protection, inspiration and decoration, and we
continue to be fascinated by the concept of embellishment.
Title: Pair of Roman Snake Bracelets
Roman, first century BCE
Medium: Gold Dimensions: Max. diameter: 2 13/16 in
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Acquired by Henry Walters, 57.534 and 57.535
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
The Walters Art Museum is among a handful of museums worldwide that has an
array of exquisite jewelry spanning over 5,000 years of history and from a vast
spectrum of cultures. Henry Walters, founder of the Walters Art Museum, assembled the collection
primarily during the early decades of the
20th Century.
Title: Marriage ring with clasped hands
Early Byzantine, 6th century
Medium: Gold, Dimensions: 5/8 in.
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Gift of Mrs. Saidie A. May, 1942, 57.1715
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
This renowned collection contains stunning examples of expert craftsmanship and innovative
design.
The exhibit contains 150 pieces. Bedazzled begins chronologically in the ancient world
with Near Eastern, Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek and Roman objects. Next are Byzantine and medieval French, German and Spanish works that are
typically religious in nature. Items from the Renaissance and
Baroque eras demonstrate the time when increased wealth and changes in clothing styles encouraged
more adornments with elaborate examples. This led to the production of a wide
variety of ornamental forms—both functional and decorative—in the 18th and 19th
centuries. The exhibition culminates with beautiful “art jewelry” created in the
early 20th century by such renowned designers as René Lalique and Tiffany & Co.
Rings
Title: Memorial ring commemorating the Burnley siblings
English, ca. 1804-5
Medium: Gold, enamel, and pearls;
Dimensions: 7/8 in
Collection of the Walters Art Museum
Acquired by Henry Walters, 44. 528
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
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Among the numerous highlights is a focus on rings throughout history. As a
supplement, important examples have been borrowed from the distinguished
collection of New York gemologist and novelist Benjamin Zucker.
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Title: Jewish Marriage ring
Middle or Eastern European, 17th-18th century
Gold and blue enamel
Dimensions: 1 7/8 in.
On loan from the Zucker Family Collection, IL.2001.10.7
Image Courtesy: Frist Center for the Visual Arts
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Bedazzled is currently on display at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville and later will travel to Florida's John and Mable Ringling Museum
of Art.
5,000 Years of Jewelry
from the Walters Art Museum
Frist Center for the Visual Arts:
through Jan 14, 2007
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art:
February 3, 2007 - April 29, 2007
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