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Renaissance Jewelry
During the Renaissance (15th century to 17th century), jewelry
became an even more important part of fashionable costume. Rich
velvet and silk robes of both men and women were embroidered
with pearls and sparkling gems. Separate pieces of jewelry
demonstrated the close alliance between the decorative arts and
those of painting, architecture, and sculpture. Renaissance
jewelry is characterized by rich color and by sculptural or
architectural design. Religious subjects were gradually replaced
by classical and naturalistic themes. Typical of the period is
the sculptural pendant in which irregular pearls, enameling, and
colored gems were combined. Also popular were brooches or
pendants containing a miniature portrait. Necklaces, chains, and
girdles continued in fashion. Designs for jewels, some by such
famous painters as Hans Holbein the Younger and Albrecht Dürer,
were printed and circulated throughout Europe, creating an
international style. Among artisans, the best known today is
Benvenuto Cellini, but none of his jewels is believed to have
survived. Notable examples of Renaissance jeweled pendants of
the 16th century include the Phoenix jewel (British Museum) and
the Canning jewel (Victoria and Albert Museum, London).
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