The Mighty Coq

close up photo of a cockerel diadem featuring a finely detailed golden rooster head. The rooster is holding a huge, faceted amethyst stone in its beak. There are wattles at the bottom of the head on each side that are spread out flat. They are made of lacy goldwork and there is green and blue enamled decoration on the ends. The crest is made from lacy goldwork and the edges are decorated in green and blue enamel. The head is attached to a three-pronged haircomb made of bone that is tan in color.

Lark Ascending, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Behold! This glorious objet d'art is The Cockerel Diadem, created by Rene Lalique, a French jeweller, medallist and glassmaker, in about 1897-1898. It was displayed at the Paris Exposition in 1900.

Apparently, the piece originally had a large yellow diamond in the beak and that's how it arrived at the museum that acquired it in 1904. I have not found why or when the diamond was exchanged for an amethyst. Nor have I found out anything on its origin story. Who was it made for? Was it ever actually worn? Was it made specifically for the Paris Exposition? So many questions!

Side view of the Cockerel Diadem, a hair ornament featuring a three-pronged tan-colored hair comb with a golden rooster head attached. The rooster's comb is lacy goldwork with green and blue enamel details. The wattles are lying flat and to the sides, also made of lacy goldwork and enamel detail. The rooster is holding a huge, faceted amethyst stone in its beak.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Officially, I see this referred to as a diadem and sometimes as a tiara but I think that's fudging the definition. I think of diadems or tiaras as having at least a vaguely circular shape. He is clearly attached to a hair comb and not at all circular. How would he be worn? Imagine the hairstyles of the 1900s - very poufy! I think you would have slid his comb straight through your updo and worn him proudly perched on top of your head.

Doesn't really matter what terminology is used - he is glorious and I would wear the heck out of him. (And, yes, I would probably also obnoxiously use the term coq as often as I could and then proclaim innocently, "What? It's French for rooster! What did you think I meant?")

Side view of the Cockerel Diadem, a hair ornament featuring a three-pronged tan-colored hair comb with a golden rooster head attached. The rooster's comb is lacy goldwork with green and blue enamel details. The wattles are lying flat and to the sides, also made of lacy goldwork and enamel detail. The rooster is holding a huge, faceted amethyst stone in its beak.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Back to the question of why he was created - I have a theory! I think it's very possible he was created specifically for the Paris Exposition precisely because he is a rooster.

Did you know that the rooster has been used as a symbol of France? It's a play on Latin words - Gallus (an inhabitant of Gaul) and gallus (rooster or cockerel). First used as a dis against the French in the Middle Ages, the kings of France turned it into a symbol representing the triumph of good over evil. Go check out the Wikipedia article linked in the rabbit hole because it's kind of wild. Anyway, the rooster fell out of use over time as a symbol of France but came back again during the French Revolution and has been a national emblem since then.

So, since it was a national emblem, it wouldn't surprise me if Lalique crafted a bespoke jewel like this for the Exposition. Let's take one last look at our fancy rooster.

Side view of the Cockerel Diadem, a hair ornament featuring a three-pronged tan-colored hair comb with a golden rooster head attached. The rooster's comb is lacy goldwork with green, blue and enamel details. The wattles are lying flat and to the sides, also made of lacy goldwork and enamel detail. The rooster is holding a huge, faceted amethyst stone in its beak.

Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

image of a white rabbit popping out of his rabbit hole, looking around, and going back in. His rabbit hole is surrounded by grass and some carrots in the ground.

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