Gemological Flora and Fauna

The parrot pendant, which is richly decorated with gold, diamonds, rubies and pearls, was crafted in the second half of the 16th century in southern Germany, possibly in Augsburg.   The colorful bird is surrounded by a white hare, a snail and a bee. The pendant was likely a wedding gift, as parrots are known […]

Angels’ Tears or Gems of the Ocean

Of delicate beauty, extreme rarity and immense value, pearls have always been objects of desire. Back in antiquity, people went pearl hunting in the Persian Gulf in search of pearls of superlative quality. After Alexander the Great conquered Persia, they also made their way to Europe. In the course of time, pearls have become shrouded […]

A Burgundian Reliquary Pendant

Jewelry in the Middle Ages was dominated by religious themes, although secular luxury was beginning to gain widespread reception. This Burgundian pendant, which was inherited by Emperor Charles V in the mid-16th century and later owned by an English aristocratic family, perfectly exemplifies the intermingling of religion and secular opulence in the late Middle Ages.  […]