Victorian "Essex Crystal" StickpinFox Terrier |
An elegant Victorian stickpin with
a reverse intaglio ("Essex crystal") of an alert fox
terrier. The finely sculpted intaglio beautifully captures
the terrier's expression of focused determination. The
portrait is richly rendered with fine details of the terrier's
collar, markings and fur. A miniature masterpiece crafted
in 14kt gold, circa 1880.
This finely detailed reverse intaglio began with a gem carver meticulously carving the scene into the reverse of a polished dome of rock crystal (hence the term "reverse intaglio"). Then using fine brushes (sometimes no more than a single horsehair) the artist carefully colored and highlighted the terrier and his collar. Finally, the back of the crystal was sealed with a small disk of mother of pearl throwing the image into bright, luminous relief. Truly a Victorian masterpiece in miniature! Cost: $775 |
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Antique Jewelry Galleries Antique Stickpin Gallery If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, I can be reached at arthur@jewelryexpert.com or 978 412-6633.
Or, if you prefer snail mail, my postal address is: |
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