Loading

Star-shaped buckle | Two rings with sapphire | Oval buckle

Venetian workshopsecond quarter of the 14th century

Museo di Castelvecchio

Museo di Castelvecchio
Verona, Italy

The very rare 14th century jewelry displayed in the museum was found in 1938 in via Trezza in Verona. It includes pieces from two belts in gold and gilded silver and a splendid buckle, or clasp, of precious stones and pearls set in gold. The buckle has a star shape – which recalls common design motifs in Gothic art, such as the rose windows of churches – made of with six large rays surrounded by pearls and six smaller ones with a pearl on top, and it is decorated with amethysts alternating with emeralds and oriental pearls arranged in concentric circles on a heavy base of pure gold. The craftsmanship of this beautiful object is comparable to that of contemporary Venetian goldsmith production – the Pala d’Oro in the church of San Marco, for example. The brooch with wavy contours trimmed with large pearls and decorated in the center with a rectangular aquamarine, contains thirty three large pearls, two amethysts, a red stone, two clear stones and a luminous emerald. Certainly these objects reflect the sumptuousness of aristocratic dresses of the time, also confirmed by the rare oriental cloths found in the tomb of Cangrande I della Scala. The treasure probably figured among the gifts given by the Republic of Venice to Cangrande’s successor, Mastino II, who established a political alliance with it.

Details

  • Title: Star-shaped buckle | Two rings with sapphire | Oval buckle
  • Creator: Venetian workshop
  • Date Created: second quarter of the 14th century
  • Provenance: Verona, state deposit
  • Type: buckle, ring
  • Medium: gold and precious stones

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps