Pendant 1803

This pendant was created by Tscherlizky around the turn of the 19th century. The silhouette was a popular form of portraiture for the rising middle class. It was cheaper than a painted miniature and could be easily reproduced. Consider the social function of this image, as something worn close to the body. The silhouette, often set in a locket or brooch, allowed the wearer to publicly display their relationship to the person depicted. The image becomes a token of affection, a sign of kinship, or even a political statement. The pendant is a product of its time, reflecting the growing importance of the individual and the rise of a consumer culture that made personal adornment more accessible. To understand it fully, we can turn to sources like trade directories, fashion plates, and social histories that would reveal much more about the aspirations and anxieties of the society that produced and consumed it.