During the last fifty years of the nineteenth century any lady of fashion visiting Italy would consider her tour of Rome incomplete if she did not call into the Castellani’s shop near the Spanish Steps to acquire one of the famous pieces of Italian archaeological revival jewellery offered there. Fortunato…
…Square-cut or pear-shaped, These rocks don’t loose their shape. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend From Cupid to Cartier a belief in the effect of gold and gemstones on the affairs of many has not over the centuries been limited to an age or culture. However it does seem to…
Elizabeth 1 was the ultimate feminist, fashioning herself and her kingdom into a major world power by believing in the qualities of the men who surrounded her
Napoleon Revolution to Empire was a truly wonderful celebration of creativity and how, as Napoleon himself insightfully pointed out – imagination rules the world
Queen Victoria received an openwork gold brooch from her beloved Albert in 1843, accompanied by the text “from Albert Feby, 1843”, on their third wedding anniversary. It is of both romantic and symbolic significance. It is in the Elizabethan taste, a stylised crowned heart decorated with Gothic foliage and surmounted by…
George IV was the last of the Hanoverian Georgian Kings and gave an impressive diamond riviére to his mistress Elizabeth, Lady Conyngham, who reputedly received gifts of jewels valued at the time in the region of 80,000 pounds. Jewellers in the early nineteenth century were realizing the importance of light…
I think we all love the Academy Awards, in fact I love award ceremonies! I am always desperate to see who will make best dressed or has the biggest shocker! This week I am sharing my ‘Top Ten’ favourite Oscar Dresses. It was incredibly hard to cull my list, but…
The fashion for cameos and intaglios began soon after Napoleon’s Italian campaign of 1796 when cameos were brought back to France from Italy. Many of these were of Greek or Roman origin. Their beauty and perfection fascinated Napoleon. He had some mounted especially for his own use and for his…
