Jessie Bayliss

The V&A commissioned me to produce an exclusive range of accessories drawn from their Victorian jewellery archives, released to coincide with the museum's 2025 Cartier exhibition.

I chose four pieces from the archives: a gemstone-encrusted locket, a Victorian gold chain, an ornate floral brooch and a pair of peridot earrings. Each was studied in close detail and reinterpreted in pen and ink, working from reference photographs and close observation to capture the character of every claw, cabochon and filigree setting — right down to the shine on every single diamond.

The illustrations were developed in two directions: a silk scarf pattern where the four pieces sit within a dense botanical lattice, and a set of stand-alone jewellery prints. The scarves are printed on pure silk twill and finished with hand-rolled edges by a Gloucestershire family business specialising in heritage textiles, and are sold exclusively through the V&A Shop in a pink and navy colourway.

Available at the V&A Shop: the Victorian Jewels print, the print and silk scarf set, the navy blue silk scarf, the locket pocket mirror, the navy blue foldable tote bag, and the Cedarwood & Myrrh soap. A V&A video feature on the collection is on YouTube.