Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Jane Morris Topaz Brooch, 1820-30

Topaz Brooch
1820-1830
The Victoria & Albert Museum





This topaz brooch originally belonged to Mrs. Jane Morris (“Janey, as she was known”), the wife of the artist, designer and socialist William Morris.  Janey was often painted by the artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti (with whom, it is thought, that she shared a romantic entanglement).  Many of the gorgeous jewels which lined Janey’s jewel box were actually given to her by Rossetti--including this topaz brooch which was bequeathed to the V&A by her daughter, Miss  May Morris in 1938.

This topaz brooch in a gold filigree frame was made in Europe between 1820 and 1830.  








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