Large Pendant, Surrounded by Twelve Small Studs 1593

This is an ornamental design for jewelry from the early 17th century by Daniel Mignot, a goldsmith and engraver. Mignot, working in Augsburg, Germany, was part of a society steeped in rigid class structures. His designs catered to the aristocracy’s desire to display their wealth and status through elaborate personal adornment. The symmetrical layout and intricate details reflect the Baroque aesthetic, which was favored by the elite and ruling classes across Europe. These designs are not merely decorative; they are emblems of power. The pendant’s size and the use of precious metals and stones in its realization would have signified the wearer’s elevated position in society. Consider how the act of wearing such a piece reinforces societal hierarchies. The wearer embodies and performs their status, while those who cannot afford such luxuries are visually reminded of their place in the social order. Mignot’s work, therefore, is a reflection of the complex interplay between art, identity, and social stratification.