Floral Jewellery: Spring Has Sprung

After the coldest winter in thirty years, it would seem that spring has finally arrived in Hatton Garden, making floral jewellery an appropriate accessory for the coming weeks.

Flowers of all kinds have long been a popular motif in jewellery, with artisans ever attempting to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature’s most colourful creations.  The eighteenth century saw a proliferation of giardinetto jewels, literally meaning “small garden”, in the form of floral bouquets or baskets, and set with various coloured stones.  The concept of sentimentalism, a product of the Romantic Movement, further encouraged the fashion for floral jewels in the nineteenth century.  In line with this trend, the ‘Language of Flowers’ became popular during this era.  Many symbolized different aspects of love, including daisies, for loyal love, roses, for happiness in love, and pansies, for a lover dwelling in ones thoughts. Around the turn of the twentieth century, enamelled flora form jewellery was at its height.  Jewellers working in the Art Nouveau style produced delicate floral jewels with subtle variations in colour through masterful enamel work.  During the twentieth century flowers still featured prominently in jewellery design, but in more abstracted forms, and often featuring brightly coloured gems. Whatever the period, floral jewellery is a classic and colourful touch of spring to add to anyone’s jewel box.