Ornament Physical Object

Accession Number
1983.001.0001
Alternate object names
Pathakam;Renaissance Gold Dress Ornament;Gold Square Ornament
Creation Date
circa 1600
Materials
Description
Of plain square form, chased with a central beaded boss.

Dimensions

1.1 cm W x 1.2 cm L , Item (Overall)

0.33 g Weight

0.1 cm Thickness

1.2 x 1.1 cm. 0.33 grams.

Exhibition Label
Case Caption (2023):

Personal Adornments

Philip IV ruled Spain from 1621 to 1665. To express his piety and enforce it in his court, he added to previous sumptuary laws to create the “Spanish style”—dark clothing with few ornaments. However, the new laws would not have reached the colonies by the time the 1622 fleet sailed. The dress ornaments in this case are from the earlier period, in which aristocrats and conquistador families enjoyed showing off their wealth in fine attire spangled with gold and jewels.
Object Caption (2023):

Dress ornaments
Gold (c.1600)
Gifts of Jamestown Inc., David Heimerdinger
1983.001.0001, 1986.008.0009, 1986.008.0014, 1986.008.0033, 1986.008.0106, 1986.008.0995, 1998.003.0001, 1999.006.0001