Pendant with a Mermaid

1885/1890

Alfred André

Associated Names
Alfred André

Jeweler, French, 1839 - 1919

This is a small pendant featuring a mermaid figure adorned with jewels. The mermaid is holding a small mirror in one hand, with her other hand resting on her head. Her upper body is adorned with gold details, while her lower half transitions into a scaled, fish-like tail. The tail is embellished with various colorful gemstones such as red and blue, and pearls are suspended from the the bottom and top of the pendant.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    baroque pearl; gold enameled in white, black, pale blue, translucent blue, red, and green; 14 diamonds, 10 rubies, 9 pearls

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (with chain): 13.2 x 7.6 x 1.1 cm (5 3/16 x 3 x 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1942.9.308

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Said to have belonged to Comtesse Batowska (city unknown). Charles J. Wertheimer [1842-1911], London. (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris); purchased 28 October 1911 by Peter A. B. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, probably as Italian sixteenth century, style of Benvenuto Cellini; inheritance from the Estate of Peter A.B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, 1942.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1935

  • Inventory of the Objects d'Art at Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, The Estate of the Late P.A.B. Widener. Philadelphia, 1935: 47.

1942

  • Works of Art from the Widener Collection. Foreword by David Finley and John Walker. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 11, as Italian 16th Century (Style of Benvenuto Cellini).

1956

  • Steingräber, Erich. Alter Schmuck. Munich, 1956: 114, fig. 190; English ed. 1957: 113, fig. 190.

1959

  • Stone, Peter. "Baroque Pearls II." Apollo (February 1959): 33, fig. 5.

1960

  • Wilkens, Manja. Das Schmuckbrevier. Hamburg, 1960: 141-142, pl. 20.

1966

  • Hansmann, Liselotte, and Lenz Kriss-Rettenbeck. Amulett und Talisman. Munich, 1966: 111, fig. 298.

1974

  • Fröhlich, Ruth and Max, eds. Benvenuto Cellini: Aghandlungen über die Goldschmiedekunst und die Bildhauerei. Basel, 1974: 55, color repro.

  • Heiniger, Ernst A., and Jean Heiniger. The Great Book of Jewels. Boston, 1974: 230, repro.

1981

  • Newman, Harold. An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewellery. London, 1981: 199, 200, repro.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 165-166, repro., frontispiece.

1993

  • Distelberger, Rudolf, Alison Luchs, Philippe Verdier, and Timonthy H. Wilson. Western Decorative Arts, Part I: Medieval, Renaissance, and Historicizing Styles including Metalwork, Enamels, and Ceramics. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1993: 295-297, color repro. 295.

2019

  • Vignon, Charlotte. Duveen Brothers and the Market for Decorative Arts, 1880-1940. New York, 2019: 103, 259 n. 269.

Wikidata ID

Q62131043

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