Duchess of Devonshire Portrait Diamond

Unknown

19th century · Diamond and painted ivory · Islamic Art

This portrait jewel of Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire (1757–1806) is comprised of a miniature painting on ivory covered with a thin slice of a diamond and surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds. The wife of William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, Georgina was known for her beauty and fashion taste, and was a much-admired member of the British aristocracy. Portrait diamonds such as this are rare, and require an extremely limpid, thinly cleaved stone through which the portrait can be seen. The lasque cut used to achieve the subtle sparkle in the flat portrait diamond originated in India, the globe’s primary source of diamonds before the 18th century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Diamond and painted ivory

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Benjamin Zucker, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019