Color: Not selected
The 19th century was a time for increased interest in ancient history due to a plethora of archaeological discoveries. A fashionable and well-educated person would have been versed in Classical history, as well as the works of contemporary authors and philosophers whose work centered on these ancient civilizations. On the surface, this parure looks like it was laboriously made for someone who loved wine or owned a vineyard, which may have been the case, but once you place it in its socio-historic timeframe, there is more to this suite than meets the eye. Wearing this Revival suite, or parts of it, would have demonstrated that you understood Dionysiac history, and the ancient cults that praised Dionysis (aka Bacchus) for his love of wine, nature, and ecstasy. So, grapes became a favorite subject, and one worthy of being fabricated by the highly esteemed jewelry house Asprey in gold and pearls. England, ca 1880
The 19th century was a time for increased interest in ancient history due to a plethora of archaeological discoveries. A fashionable and well-educated person would have been versed in Classical history, as well as the works of contemporary authors and philosophers whose work centered on these ancient civilizations. On the surface, this parure looks like it was laboriously made for someone who loved wine or owned a vineyard, which may have been the case, but once you place it in its socio-historic timeframe, there is more to this suite than meets the eye. Wearing this Revival suite, or parts of it, would have demonstrated that you understood Dionysiac history, and the ancient cults that praised Dionysis (aka Bacchus) for his love of wine, nature, and ecstasy. So, grapes became a favorite subject, and one worthy of being fabricated by the highly esteemed jewelry house Asprey in gold and pearls. England, ca 1880