The Ornamented Being

Gimmel ring. 1600-50, Europe. Gold enamel set with diamond and semi precious stone. The hand mechanism twists to unlock and the ring collapses into three interlocking bands.

I love these brooches! The V&A has one in their collection!

Georgian Regard Brooch England Circa 1780 A brooch in the form of a key, with stones spelling ‘regard’ hanging from it.

Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, and a Diamond 

“Parure, consisting of a necklace with a pendant, a bracelet and a pair of ear-rings. Enamelled and chased-gold links uniting sixteen enamelled miniatures, fourteen inscribed on the reverse with the identities of the figures portrayed.

The inscriptions on the backs of these enamelled miniatures identify the portraits as following: on the necklace from left to right, Mme de Parabere (mistress of the Regent, the duc d’Orléans), Princess de Lamballe (Marie Antoinette’s closest friend;), Mme Elizabeth (sister of Louis XVI), Henriette d’Angleterre (sister of Charles 11 of England, wife of the Dauphin, Philippe d’Orléans), Mme Dubarry (mistress of Louis XV from 1769); Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) on the pendant.. The back of the miniature on the clasp is covered but the portrait appears to be that of Mme de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV for twenty years (1744 - 64). On the bracelet, from left to right the portraits are of Mlle de Lavaliere (presumably Louise de la Valiere, mistress of Louis XIV), Marie Antoinette, Marquise de Sévigné (mistress of Louis XIV), Mme de Montespan (also a mistress of Louis X1V). The inscription on the clasp is again covered, but the sitter may be Madame de Maintenon, last mistress of Louis XIV, whom he married in 1685. The earrings have Mme Elizabeth, the Princess de Lamballe, and Marie Antoinette twice; the upper miniature on the right shows her as Archduchesse d’Autriche, before she married Louis XVI.”

“Splashing, the grand prize winning photo as well as Nature category winner, was taken in the city of Batam in Indonesia’s Riau Islands”

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2077382/National-Geographic-photo-contest-2011-Winners-capture-stunning-images-nature.html#ixzz1hHcVILu3

“These are some sketches of jewellery produced for the wedding of TIH Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna in 1894.

The images were posted by Volker on the Glittering Royal Events message board and are courtesy of him.”

“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think its forever.”

Carl Sagan

sanc·tu·ary

Victorian Natural Pearl, Diamond, Silver & Gold Brooch Europe Circa 1900’s

The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.  ~Author Unknown

This Liénard tiara, made of gold, horn, pearls, and diamonds, which sold for $60,000 at Christie’s in 2009.