Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
182<br />
FRANCE<br />
Chamberlain’s key with the monogram<br />
<strong>of</strong> Napoleon I<br />
Clef de chambellan au chiffre de<br />
Napoléon Ier<br />
Empire period 1804–15<br />
gilt bronze, ribbon, gold thread<br />
Fondation Napoléon, Paris<br />
Donation Lapeyre inv.1143<br />
NITOT ET FILS, Paris (attributed to)<br />
manufacturer<br />
France 1780–1814<br />
Malachite parure<br />
Parure en malachite<br />
Empire period 1804–15<br />
gold, malachite, pearls<br />
Fondation Napoléon, Paris<br />
Donation Lapeyre inv. 973<br />
The most famous Parisian jewelers during<br />
the Empire were Marie-Étienne Nitot, and<br />
his son François-Regnault, who received the<br />
most important <strong>of</strong>ficial commissions. They<br />
excelled at creating parures – that is, sets<br />
comprising comb, tiara, earrings, necklace,<br />
belt buckle, pins and a pair <strong>of</strong> bracelets –<br />
in which stones <strong>of</strong> the same colour were<br />
mounted in settings <strong>of</strong> the same design.<br />
It was this uniformity, as well as the lightness<br />
and delicacy <strong>of</strong> French craftsmanship,<br />
that made it possible to wear quantities<br />
<strong>of</strong> sumptuous jewellery with elegance.<br />
© COPYRIGHT<br />
This document remains the property <strong>of</strong> the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Gallery</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Victoria</strong> and must be returned upon request. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without written authorisation.
Change language