Tiara 1868 - 1878

This tiara was made by Jacob Ulrich Holfeldt Tostrup, a Norwegian goldsmith known for his intricate filigree work. The piece embodies the visual codes of status and identity within 19th-century European society. This tiara, with its delicate silver filigree, is not just an object of beauty but a potent symbol of social aspiration and cultural identity. In Norway, the rise of nationalism and the assertion of cultural distinctiveness were powerful forces. Goldsmiths like Tostrup played a crucial role in shaping and promoting a visual vocabulary of Norwegian identity. To understand this tiara fully, we need to explore archives, design books, and historical accounts of jewelry making. This will reveal the networks of patronage, the circulation of design ideas, and the social meanings attached to particular forms and materials.