Ring with a reclining Vulcan, Italy, c. 1540 - c. 1560, gold; d 2.2 cm. BK-17184. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Sculptors and goldsmiths use the same materials, and in the 16th century they worked in both large and small formats. The celebrated goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini, for example, made monumental sculptures as well as jewellery. Only a few of these sculptor’s pieces, like this ring, have been preserved. The reclining man derives from a sculpture by Michelangelo, Dusk, on the tomb of Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence.

Pendant with Amor in a niche, Netherlands, c. 1550 - c . 1560, gold, enamel, pearls and precious stones, h 8.7 cm. BK-NM-11109. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold. Openwork , enameled and adorned with pearls and precious stones . In the center an enamel amor figure.

Ring with table -cut diamond, Italy, c. 1500 - c. 1600, gold, enamel and diamond; d 3.0 cm. BK-17183. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ring of gold and enamel, where a large, flat cut, square diamond is mounted. On either side of this, mascarons.

Pendant with the Virgin and Child and two angels, Italy, c. 1500 - c. 1600, gold, enamel and diamond; h 6.8 cm × w 2.5 cm. BK-17054. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Presenting Mary with Child and two angels in an oval. It is completely enamelled

Brooch with the bust of a woman, France, c. 1500 - c. 1600, gold, enamel and baroque pearls; h 3.8 cm × w 2.8 cm. BK-17059. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Oval brooch of gold, with the bust of a woman in relief. Enamelled, and with helmets, breast and shoulders of baroque pearls.

Pendant with Minerva, Italy, c. 1550 - c. 1600, gold, pearls, rubies and enamel; h 10.0 cm × w 3.8 cm. BK-17048. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold. Presenting a bust of Minerva, hanging on two chains. Helmet and chest piece consist of baroque pearls. Adorned with pearls, rubies and enamel.

Hanger in the form of a pomander, Germany, c. 1550 - c . 1600, gold, pearls and precious stones; h 13.0 cm × w 7.6 cm. BK-17047. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold. The egg-shaped pendant is suspended from four chains that come together in a canopy. To this also depends a flying amor figurine . Adorned with pearls and precious stones.

Medallion with the repentant Mary Magdalene income in the cave, France, c. 1550 - c. 1600, gold and enamel; h 6.0 cm × w 4.6 cm. BK-17067. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant with toothpick in the shape of a dragon, Italy, c. 1550 - c. 1600, gold, enamel, pearls and gems; h 7.1 cm × w 2.7 cm. BK-17068. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Hanger also toothpick of gold, enamel, pearls and gems. The whole has the shape of a dragon.

Pendant in the shape of a flying dragon, c. 1550 - c. 1600, gold, enamel and a baroque pearl; h 7.1 cm × w 2.7 cm. BK-17070. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ring lady with the unicorn, Anonymous, c . 1550 - c . 1600, gold, enamel and diamonds; h 2.6 cm × d 2.0 cm. BK-1965-48. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In the middle of a heart topped by a diamond between a white unicorn and a woman dressed in blue.

Pendant in the form of Cupid in a niche, Germany, c. 1560 - c. 1580, gold, precious stones and pearls, h 5.5cm × w 3.9cm. BK-17058. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Efforts to reproduce a design quickly and simply were made as early as the Renaissance. Looking closely at this pendant, one can see that it is assembled of various parts: the niche, the little figure and the settings of the precious stones are joined together with screws.

Ring decorated with Moses and the tablets of the law, Netherlands, c. 1570; silver gilt, crystal and mace;  d 1.5 cm. BK-BR-984. On loan from E.P. van Dijk, Amsterdam, 15-Mar-1991. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Earrings with lamb on the book with seven seals, c . 1580, gold, enamel and baroque pearl; h 8.0 cm × l 3.7 cm × w 3.8 cm. BK-17056-A & BK-17056-B. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Drop Earring, part of a pair of gold, enamel and baroque pearl, depicting a hanging book in which a lamb (lamb of God in the book of the seven seals).

Hanger in the form of a gun on the gun carriage, Germany, c. 1580 - c . 1600, gold, diamond and ruby; h 8.5 cm × w 5.8 cm. BK-17189. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The wheels are set with rubies and diamonds. Down three hanging pearls.

Pendant with closed hands together, South Germany, ca. 1580 - ca. 1600, partly enamelled gold, precious stones and pearls, H × W 10,0cm 6,0cm. BK-17 064. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant, bridal gift, gold, enamel, pearls and diamonds. In the middle of a large diamond around which two hands.

Portrait of a young woman, Giambattista Moroni, 1560 - 1578, oil on canvas, h 73,5cm × W 65cm. SK-A-3036. Purchase with the support of the Rembrandt Association, 1925. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ten half-length, standing with a fan in the left hand, lavishly adorned with ornamental arden. On the neck a golden pendant on a ribbon.

Hanger on pedestal with Amphitrite on a dolphin, Germany, ca. 1580 - ca. 1600. Figure: gold, partially enamelled, pearls and precious stones; pedestal: patinated gold, h 14,5cm. BK-17 082. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Human Figure, depicting Amphitrite, standing on a dolphin, on an ebony pedestal. 

Ring with table cut ruby, Germany, ca. 1580 - ca. 1600, gold, colored enamel and ruby; d 2.0 cm. BK-NM-10846. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ring with a table-cut diamond, Netherlands, c. 1580 - c. 1620, gold, diamond; d 2.2 cm × h 3.2 cm. BK-NM-7972. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Diamonds are octahedral crystals with a regular eightsided shape. In the early 16th century it was discovered how to cleave a crystal on its broadest side, which resulted in two joined pyramids. The shape most | commonly used in jewellery was the table-cut stone. This is an octahedron of which a little less than half of the top pyramid is sawn off.

Pendant with man and woman in a sleigh, ca. 1600, gold, diamonds and precious stones, h 3.8 cm × w 6.4 cm. BK-17051. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold. Presenting a sleigh pulled by a horse . The sled is a woman and behind her is the charioteer.

Pendant in the shape of a rooster, Germany, ca. 1600, partly enamelled gold, pearls and precious stones, H 7.5cm × 4.5cm b. BK-NM-7459. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The body is formed by a mother pearl. The pendant is partially enameled and decorated with diamonds and rubies.

Large, irregular pearls were in the 16th century are often the starting point for a design. Here the pearl forms the body of a rooster. The head, tail and legs made the jeweler of gold. He enamelled these parts in different colors and occupied them with (presumably) rubies.Especially from the 18th century belonged this cock to the collection of the Dutch satraps.

Hanger and Necessaire in the shape of a dolphin, Germany, ca. 1600, gold, pearls and precious stones, h 10.2 cm × w 7.8 cm. BK-17060. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Hanger and necessaire of gold , enamelled and set with emerald and topaz . In the shape of a dolphin . Content: a toothpick and a spoon.

Pendant with lute player on a deer, Germany, ca. 1600, gold, pearls and rubies, h 7.0cm × w 5.0cm. BK-17072. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold, enamel , pearls and rubies. Presenting a lute player on a white deer.

Pendant with cachet with Death, Germany, ca. 1600, gold, white enamelled gold, h 3.0 cm. BK-17050. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant of gold. Presenting a skeleton with scythe in white enamelled gold.

Pendant with flying cupid, Germany, c. 1600, gold, enamel, pearls, emeralds and rubies; h 10.0 cm × w 6.8 cm. BK-17052. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant in the form of a mandolin, Germany, c . 1600, gold, enamel and precious stones; h 8.5 cm × w 4.6 cm. BK-17057. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant in the shape of a sphinx, Italy, c . 1600, enamelled gold, rubies and baroque pearl; h 8.5 cm × w 4.6 cm. BK-17069. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant on pedestal with Cupid, Italy, c. 1600 and/or c. 1700, enamelled gold, rubies and baroque pearl; h 11 cm × w 6.5 cm. BK-17071. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The bow and arrow shooting figure enamelled and with rubies occupied, and was originally intended as a pendant. In the middle of the base is put a large, eight-sided cut topaz.

Hoedagraaf with Samson destroyed the Temple, France, ca. 1600, gold and enamel, h 3.0 cm. BK-17055. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant in the shape of a monster, Germany, ca. 1600 - ca. 1620? partly enamelled gold, opal and pearl, h 10.5cm × 3.5cm b. BK-17 073. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The body is composed of opals. The sample sits on a pedestal oval suspended from four chains.

Pendant in the form of a pad, Anonymous, c. 1600 - c . 1620, baroque pearls, gold and enamel; h 5.8 cm × w 3.5 cm. BK-BK-17061. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pomander, Amsterdam, c. 1600 - c. 1625, gold , rubies , emeralds and diamonds; h 4.2 cm. BK-1960-1. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Decorated with relief enamel flower and leaf decorations.

This pomander is shaped like a pomegranate, which was a symbol of vitality in the 16th century. The spherical part is made up of six sections, each one consisting of a little box, whose lid can be lifted. The boxes contained aromatic balms, which could serve as perfume as well as medicine. Pomanders were hung from a chain or a belt.

Pendant, Netherlands, ca. 1600 - ca. 1650?, bezoar and goudfiligrein, l 11,0cm. BK-NM-7082. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Teen pig in a gold frame and a gold chain.

Bracelet with religious scenes (Benedict of Nursia and Education at Mary), David da Costa Dias , c. 1610 - c . 1640, gold and enamel, l 18.0 cm × w 3.0 cm. BK-17075. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Bracelet consisting of ten openwork links of gold and enamel.

Medallion with the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, Anonymous, c. 1665, gold, enamelled gold; h 10.0 cm × w 8.0 cm × t 1.8 cm × w 72.0 gr. BK-1976-45. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

On one side is John the Baptist preaching to a group of people. On the other side of the baptism of Christ by John. Both performances within a border of flowers .

According to the inscription on the border of this medallion, it was made to commemorate the baptism of Jan Baptiste Barchman Wuytiers, the son of Cornelis Barchman Wuytiers and Elisabeth Dommer, in Amsterdam in 1665. While the medallion will have been crafted in the Netherlands, its technique and ornamentation follow international fashion. Painted enamel garden flowers and plants were also popular at the French court at this time.

Ring, Netherlands, c. 1670 - 1690, gold, silver; d 2.0cm. BK-NM-5753. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Ring of gold, with setting of silver. With a large, oval cut stone in the middle and a small on both sides.

Entourage ring, the hoop in the form of a bow, Netherlands, c. 1670 - c . 1690, silver, diamonds; h 1.2 cm × w 2.0 cm × d 1.5 cm. BK-NM-5751. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Medallion with the crowned monogram of Henrietta Amalia van Anholt -Dessau, Netherlands, c . 1690, Gold, partially enamelled. BK-NM-7595. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant with the rest on the Flight into Egypt, Netherlands, c . 1675 - c . 1700, gold, turquoise and coral; d 8.0 cm. BK-1965-12. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Pendant consisting of a carved medallion of red coral, bordered by a wide openwork gold list. The medallion presents "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" . The table is covered with enamel and studded with turquoise and coral.