Pendant Shaped as a Horseman c. 1860/70, second half of the 19th century

Salomon Weininger created this pendant shaped as a horseman in the 19th century out of gold, enamel, diamonds, and pearls. The piece speaks to the intense labor of jewelry design, which often goes unnoticed. Consider the chasing and piercing of the gold, the grinding of the diamonds and pearls, and the painstaking work of applying enamel, all of which require different levels of knowledge and skill. Weininger would have either been trained in these areas, or collaborated with other skilled artisans. These refined techniques have a long history, dating back to antiquity, and demand great control, patience, and specialized tools. Objects like these are often dismissed as simply ornamental or status symbols, yet they provide a powerful link to the workshops in which they were made, and the intense labor required in their production. Looking closely at the materials and processes is essential to understanding how these works operate in social and cultural terms, allowing us to question the perceived divide between the fine and decorative arts.