London Jewellery Collection

The diamond necklace Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is probably the most comprehensive in the world. There may be larger displays or perhaps more impressive individual objects contained in public collections abroad, but this representative collection shows examples from Ancient Egypt right up to the present day. As well as precious jewellery there is a unique range of peasant jewellery from many countries.

The Jewellery Collection is as old as the museum itself. It all began when the Great Exhibition of 1851 closed. The Treasury had authorised a then nominal sum to be spent on buying from the Exhibition such objects of applied art excelling in workmanship, yet without reference to particular styles. Included were examples of contemporary French diamond ring jewellery, which were put on view at Marlborough House, in London's Pall Mall, during 1852, first known as The Museum of Manufactures. Later in the same year it came to be called The Museum of Ornamental Art and began to collect historical jewellery.

When Marlborough House was needed as a residence for the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, other accommodation had to be found. The Museum moved to its present site in the South Kensington area of London and came to be called The Museum of Science and Art. The year was 1857 and by this time the historic specimens of jewellery outnumbered the modern ones.
 
In 1891 a design was needed for the rebuilding of certain parts of the Museum; a competition of loose diamonds took place and it was won by Aston Webb who subsequently was knighted. Nine years went by before the foundation stone was laid in 1899, which was also the last public ceremony attended by Queen Victoria, and it was then that she made the request for the Museum to be called the Victoria & Albert Museum.

"Eight years afterwards, in ]une 1909, the present building was opened by King Edward VII, with great pomp, it having cost one million pounds. This highly ornamented edifice with terra cotta decoration has a crowning cupola that looks like the tiers of some grand wedding cake, presided over by the figure of Fame. The treasures it houses include the fine and applied arts of all countries, periods and styles and is unrivalled for its quality and scope.

International Jewelry Exibitions

Although jewellery pieces had continued to be bought from International Exhibitions, up to the Paris Exhibition of 1900, it is interesting to note that the Jewellery Collection has been mainly built up from gifts. One notable bequest is the Waterton Collection of rings. There are examples of Ancient Egyptian scarabs, Roman intaglios, a type of cameo of the 1st century A.D, medieval Devotional and Talismanic rings of the 13th and 18th centuries: in fact a most remarkable historical survey of rings.

Another interesting exhibit is the outstanding group of gemstones mounted as rings. These were bequeathed to the Museum in 1869 by the Rev. Chauncey Hare Townshend, and there are 183 of these fascinating stones., Of particular note are the aquamarine, the peridot and the deep purple amethyst. Star rubies and sapphires have a special interest but once again it is the variety and breadth of this collection that has most appeal.

Best European Jewelry Pieces

Among the best known European pieces on show is an Irish collar of the 7th century B.C. in the form of a magnificent gold torque. From the 16th century there is the Armada jewel; in blue enamelled loose diamonds it is set with diamonds and rubies. On the front of the case there is a portrait bust of Queen Elizabeth I and inside is a tiny miniature portrait of the Queen, possibly by Nicholas Hilliard and later retouched. From the Cathedral treasury of the Virgin of the Pillar, Saragossa, in Spain, a pendant of enamelled gold hung with pearls, is set with spinels, crystals and an emerald. In the centre is a dog, a favourite motif of that time, about 1600. Dress ornaments from the Russian Crown Jewels of the late 18th century include a gold and silver flower brooch, decorated with enamelling and heavily encrusted with diamonds and rubies.