Turquoise Grass Medal

Manual engraving medallion with pearls and turquoise yellow gold. They are very ornate medallions, made of fine gold leaf, with floral applications and festoons in gold of various shades, as well as small turquoise and imitation pearls. Generally, these pieces are of considerable size and were initially worn in conjunction with grass necklaces, with stones of the same color as those decorating the center of the necklace. Nowadays, they can be hung from any chain strong enough to support their weight. Gramalheira’s medallions are an example of showy and extravagant goldsmithing, which contributed to their popularity, especially in ethnographic parades. Originally, they were considered bourgeois jewelry, but their use spread to local populations throughout the North of Portugal.