Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
This is thanks to Queen Victoria herself, whose reign brought about a long stable development. Secondly, we have to thank Prince Albert for his love for the Queen. This love was expressed in jewelry and showed his talent and artistic taste in jewelry design.
It can be said that the love story of these two lasted throughout the Victorian era influenced jewelry design.
Queen Victoria’s reign lasted 64 years. When she reigned Britain was the center of the industrial revolution. All kinds of jewelry making skills have made significant progress in this period.
This period was also the peak of British colonialism, and its cultural influence spread across Europe and the world.
And all kinds of newly discovered gems flowed into Europe through the East India Company’s trade. This brought significant opportunities to the jewelry industry during this period. Queen Victoria became a world-class icon, leading high society fashion trends.
And because she was also the grandmother of Europe, this influence spread far beyond her 64 years on the throne.
So some jewelry collectors want to start on this period of antique jewelry, suddenly found a lot of different time period of jewelry are known as the Victorian style, and their styles are actually very different, a moment in the heart full of confusion.
Don’t worry, now you can publicize the Victorian style of 9 key words, so you can become a more professional collector.
The prevalence of floral jewelry：
Victoria fell in love with Albert at first sight and proposed to him personally, while Prince Albert expressed his love with jewelry.
Known for his talent, the young prince designed a jewelry collection for his bride. The young ones favored vibrant, naturalistic jewelry, using life-affirming plant and animal life as inspiration, such as Victoria’s orange blossom wreath.
Although Victoria’s simple wedding back then was not as grand and lively as modern royal weddings, the bride’s look led the way for later wedding fashions.
The combination of Victoria’s choice of garlands and white silk wedding dresses set bridal fashion for centuries to come. For example, their eldest son Edward, when he married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, completely replicated Queen Victoria’s bridal look.
Victoria did not choose a sparkling crown of diamonds and gemstones, but a wreath of orange blossoms. Firstly, because orange blossom represents fidelity, and secondly, because Albert gave him an orange blossom brooch, made of gold branches and leaves, made of white porcelain flowers, as an engagement gift before the wedding.
The Legacy of Wedding Fashion
Albert completed the entire collection for his wife. In 1845, Victoria received another brooch and matching earrings, and in 1846 a crown of orange blossom. This was identical to the bouquet she wore on her wedding day.
Arguably a masterpiece of naturalism, this crown consists of branches and leaves made of gold, white porcelain, flowers and oranges made of green enamel.
Held in place by soft velvet ribbons, the four tiny green enameled oranges represent the four oldest children, Victoria, Albert, Edward, Alice and Alfred.
The Queen wrote in her diary that it was such a lovely wreath and that Albert’s thoughts were so kind.
From then on Victoria always wore this whole set of orange blossom jewelry on her wedding anniversary, and naturally it caused a fashion trend.
The floral motif is already the most popular theme in jewelry design, and this period of the hobby is dedicated to the simulation of floral designs, so some jewelry designers often make use of the latest discovery of botanical mapping to design, aiming for a more natural, realistic painting style.
Animal jewelry comes alive：
And this period bouquet as the theme of jewelry is also very popular. In addition to flowers various animal jewelry is also representative of naturalism, the most famous of which was the snake-themed jewelry.
Albert’s engagement ring to Victoria was snake-themed, and it is clear that they both believed snakes represented wisdom and never-ending love.
The most significant thing she needed as a queen was wisdom, and the last thing she needed as a happy wife was love. Spirit snake jewelry of this period has a variety of shapes, but overall are more simulation. Later BaoShiLong Serpent Boheme series, Bvlgari Serpenti series of abstract style are very different.
And this period of the spirit of the snake are like to use ruby or emerald to accent.
In addition to snakes there were quite a few other animals that found favor with Albert. He himself designed the “Eagle of Coburg” brooch in turquoise, with ruby-set eyes, symbolizing passion, and claws on two pearls, symbolizing true love.
The diamond beak symbolizes eternity. The eagle was a natural symbol of his German heritage. He had 12 of these brooches made as gifts for the 12 bridesmaids at his wedding.
