Herbarium Nr
004
Scientific Name
CAMELLIA japonica
Common Name
CAMELLIA
Type
Brooch
Place
Made in Genoa, Italy
Date
1950’s
Collected by
Attributed Antoniazzi Chiappe
Material
750/1000 gold, the diamondset flower in whitegold
Size
53,8 x 42,2 mm
Total Weight
20,1 grams
Condition
Good
Price
Sold
La Dame aux Camélias, commonly known in English as Camille, is a 19th century novel and play written by Alexandre Dumas fils. With the 1853 opera La Traviata Giuseppe Verdi put the story to music. The female star in the novel/play had the flowery name Marguerite. In the opera this courtesan was renamed Violetta. She got her nickname ‘La Dame aux Camélias’ as she was wearing a red camellia when she was unavailable for making love and a white one when she was available. The tragic role was played by several actresses and singers, including Sarah Bernhardt, associated with the role after starring on stage over a thousand times and in the 1911 film. The story has been the adapted into numerous later stage, screen and ballet versions.