Winged Lion and Emerald Stickpin Winged Lion and Emerald |
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A glowering winged lion fiercely guards a sultry
green emerald and small diamond. The serpent-like body of
the chimera curls beneath the emerald and terminates in
a tail of elegant scrolls and acanthus leaves. The late
Victorians loved small jewels populated with fantastic creatures
and mythological beasts. This finely sculpted stickpin is
a wonderful example created in 14kt gold around 1900.
Although this stickpin is not signed, I have attributed it to Whiteside & Blank based on similar stickpins created by the firm. Another jewelry maker, Alling & Co., made similar winged-lion stickpins in the early 1900s, but of a smaller size and less finely detailed. Whiteside & Blank created beautifully designed, richly detailed gold jewels during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beautifully sculpted fantastic creatures were a specialty of the firm. The reverse of the stickpin (pictured below) is as finely crafted as the front. The pin stem is secured to the solid back of the winged lion with a sturdy collet. "14K" is stamped to the upper right for the purity of the gold. Cost: $765 |
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Here are a few more elegant jewels from the
past ...
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| Antique Jewelry Galleries Antique Stickpin Gallery If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, I can be reached at 978 525-8951 or arthur@jewelryexpert.com.
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