Brooch

Place of origin:

France (probably, made)
Date:

1800-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker:

unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques:

Enamel and gold

François Joseph Charles Bonaparte, son of Napoleon I and his second wife, Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, was named the ‘King of Rome’ by his father when he was born in 1811. At Napoleon’s first abdication during the downfall of the empire in 1814-15, François briefly became Emperor Napoleon II, but in name alone.

The practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamel developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s artist Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible.

he Louvre bought the Empress Eugenie Brooch for $10.5 million

An antique diamond bow brooch from François Kramer, circa 1855. It was designed as an old mine and old European-cut diamond openwork sculpted bow.

The brooch was created by François Kramer for the wife of Napoléon III, Empress Eugénie. Henri Loyrette, President of the Louvre and his administration arrangement a private sale with Christie’s to bring the brooch back to France.

9 notes ← reblog

Brooch (part of a parure)

late 16th cent.

English

Presented to Queen Mary by Lilias Countess Bathurst

0 notes ← reblog

Cruciform brooch with thirteen onyx cameos (part of a parure)

Cameos: 16th-17th cent.; Brooch: early 19th cent. (attached to a later brooch mount with hook for a pendant drop)

North Italian

Acquired by Queen Mary

4 notes ← reblog

Brooch with an onyx cameo (part of a parure)

Cameo: 16th-17th cent.; Brooch: mid-19th cent.

North Italian

Acquired by Queen Mary