49 works in this view — arrow keys or swipe to move between them.
Dance in Art
Jewellery
Unknown
- Collection:
- Jewellery
- Source:
- va
- Rights:
- V&A — check rights per item
This object does not depict dance and does not belong in a dance art reference collection. Its inclusion appears to reflect a cataloguing error or misclassification.
What you are looking at
A gold ring with a substantial oval cabochon of translucent green stone—likely jade or similar mineral—set in an ornamental bezel. The stone is polished to a lustrous finish and dominates the composition, mounted on a band that widens toward the shoulders with decorative linear detailing. The setting appears to be cast rather than wrought, with applied ornament typical of mid-twentieth-century costume or fine jewelry. The photograph is taken against a neutral grey ground, isolating the object completely and emphasizing its three-dimensionality through soft directional light that reveals the stone's depth and the metal's matte surface.
The dance depicted
This is a jewelry object, not a depiction of dance. It contains no figures, dancers, movement, or choreographic reference.
How it was made
Cast and worked gold or gold alloy. The oval cabochon is polished stone (jade or similar) set in a bezel. The band shows evidence of hand-finishing and linear engraving or chasing on the shoulders. Photography: studio documentation shot against a neutral background with raking light to emphasize the three-dimensional form and surface texture.
About this work
This is a ring, not a dance artwork. It is catalogued in the Gallery of Dance in Art database under the category "Jewellery" with no artist attribution, date, or provenance recorded. Without any inscription, figurative content, or documented dance association, there is no clear basis for its inclusion in a dance image collection. The holding record provides insufficient information to contextualize it within art historical or dance historical frameworks.
Where it lives
The record states only that the object is held in a "Jewellery" collection with source "va" (possibly the Victoria and Albert Museum), with no accession number, date, or maker recorded. The catalogue entry is minimal and provides no context for the ring's origin, style period, or function.
Questions about this work
Why is this jewelry in a dance art gallery?
The catalogue record does not explain its inclusion. There is no dance content visible in the object, no figurative imagery, and no documented dance association. This appears to be a cataloguing error or the result of a misclassified batch acquisition.
What is the stone?
The record does not identify it. Based on its appearance—translucent, polished, medium green—it is likely jade or possibly another carved stone used in costume jewelry. Testing would be required to confirm.
When was this made?
The record does not give a date. The style of the gold setting and the photography method suggest mid-twentieth century, but this is inference only.
More dance artwork
