Cinta

Accession Number1986.008.0004a

VesselNuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)

Datecirca 1575 – 1600

DescriptionThis spectacular, multi-element piece of jewelry was designed to impress. It is comprised of twenty-four conjoined, alternating, near-square, and rectangular cartouche-form medallions. Each is elaborately decorated with beaded scrolls, spherules, flower heads, quatrefoils, and they are variously mounted for pearls and gemstones. Three medallions are set with table-cut rubies, four are set with table-cut diamonds, and eight hold dual ring-set pearls. The array of links would have formed either piece of a matched cinta (belt) and collar (necklace) set. As a cinta, it would have encircled the small of the wearer’s waist; as a collar, it would have gone around the neck and draped onto the chest.