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Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

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Material: Rock Crystal
Ruler Selenite with Gold Leaf on a Lucite Base
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Ruler Selenite with gold leaf on a Lucite base. Selenite logs are single, prismatic selenite crystals from Morocco that were formed in extensive beds by the evaporation of ocean brine. This mineral is characterized by a silky, pearly luster called satin spare. It is then lined with gold leaf which contrasts beautifully with the sleek selenite. Interi transforms Italian artifacts...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Organic Modern Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

17th Century 'Florence Fragment' Vase with Agate Coral & a Double Crystal Point
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian church vase with fossilized coral, a double crystal point on an agate base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic...
Category

17th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Agate, Coral, Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' with a Chalcedony Rosette
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian fragment with a chalcedony rosette. It has antique hand-written Italian inscriptions on the base. The chalcedony mineral mimics the color and texture of the distressed wood fragment. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic Florence Flood of 1966. This was one of the worst floods recorded since the Renaissance and drew thousands of volunteers from all over the world to help save the city known for its precious history, artwork, artifacts, and rare books. The volunteers were called "the mud angels" because of the mud and silt left everything from the damage of the flood. There is still the original paint and silt left on the piece to uphold the integrity, craftmanship, and history of sculptural fragment. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with Crystal Quartz Clusters
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian vase with a crystal quartz cluster on a crystal quartz cluster base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic Florence Flood of 1966. This was one of the worst floods recorded since the Renaissance and drew thousands of volunteers from all over the world to help save the city known for its precious history, artwork, artifacts, and rare books. The volunteers were called "the mud angels" because of the mud and silt left everything from the damage of the flood. There is still the original paint and silt left on the piece to uphold the integrity, craftsmanship, and history of fragment. The crystal quartz clusters are applied to the piece to create a sculptural work. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...
Category

17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

Sculptural Tree with an 18th Century Italian Miniature Helmet Mounted on Calcite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural tree with an 18th century Italian gold leaf miniature helmet and mounted on a calcite and mica mineral. The helmet is hung on a type of dese...
Category

18th Century Italian Organic Modern Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

18th Century Italian Gold Leaf Sunray with a Baroque Pearl on Aragonite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian sunray with baroque pearls mounted on an aragonite crystal base. The 18th century gold leaf sunray originally part of a halo or sunburst motif in an artistic depiction in a historic church. It is mounted onto the white aragonite...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

17th Century 'Florence Fragment' with Wulfenite on a Fishtail Selenite Base
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian fragment with wulfenite on a fishtail selenite base This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from t...
Category

17th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian Mecca Vase with Mica, Tourmaline, and Baroque Pearls
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian mecca vase mounted with mica and tourmaline and adorned natural-forming baroque pearls. The mica and baroque pearls perfe...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

18th Century Italian Angel Wing on a Crystal Quartz Cluster with Baroque Pearls
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian hand-carved gold leaf angel wing on a crystal quartz cluster with Baroque pearls. The hand-carved gold leaf angel wing is originally from a historic church in Liguria. This piece is particularly rare and exquisite due to its unique shape and size. It is gold leaf and has a bole underlay. The ecclesiastical artifact is mounted on a bed of quartz crystals. The Baroque pearls, tangerine quartz...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

Pair of 18th Century Italian Candlesticks with Chalcedony and Barite Crystals
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
A pair of 18th century Italian candlesticks adorned with chalcedony rosettes with deposits of pyrite and golden barite crystals tapering down the matrix. Barite crystals are a very r...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Pyrite, Gold Leaf

18th Century Italian Fragment with Chalcopyrite, Calcite Crystals, and Kyanite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian fragment with chalcopyrite on a druzy crystal matrix with calcite crystals and gold-plate kyanite. Th...
Category

18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian Mecca Arrow with a Baroque Pearl on a Polished Calcite Base
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th-century Italian mecca arrow with a baroque pearl on a polished calcite base. The arrow was once used as part of a decorative motif in artistic depictions (most likely of Saint ...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with a Mica Cluster & Garnets
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian fragment mounted with mica cluster with garnets on a petrified wood base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It wa...
Category

17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian Leaf Fragment with Baroque Pearl & Barite Crystals on Agate
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian leaf fragment with a natural forming baroque pearl and barite crystals on barite in matrix and polished agate base. The crystals have encrusted themselves around...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Agate

Sculptural 18th Century Italian Hand Carved Mecca Tassel on Chalcopyrite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian mecca hand carved tassel on a coordinating chalcopyrite mineral base. This tassel was originally hung from an 18th century Italian chandelier. Many tassels were used to decorate churches on religious feast days. Others were commonly used to decorate 18th-19th century French and...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

17th Century Italian Figure of Christ with Calcite Crystals on Barite & Calcite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian (Tuscan) figure of Christ decorated with calcite crystals on a barite and calcite crystal specimen with chalcopyrite. The hand carved figure of Christ is from a ...
Category

17th Century Italian Organic Modern Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Crystal, Rock Crystal

Large Smoky Grey Rock Crystal Quartz Disk
Located in New York, NY
A large smoky-grey rock crystal quartz disk with beautiful natural veins.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian Candlestick Top with Sunset Cactus Quartz and Baroque Pearl
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian candlestick top decorated with sunset cactus quartz and a baroque pearl. The gold leaf candlestick top originally came from an 18th century Italian candlestic...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

Polished Agate Cathedral with a Tangerine Crystal Point
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Polished agate cathedral with a tangerine crystal point. Agate is characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. These slabs are clas...
Category

15th Century and Earlier American Organic Modern Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Agate, Rock Crystal, Quartz

19th Century Italian Peditment Fragment with Pectin Shells and Crystal on Lucite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
19th century Italian pediment fragment decorated with pectin shells and red phantom crystal points on a lucite base. The piece is put together by ...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

17th Century Italian Gilt Candlestick with Chalcopyrite and Gold-Plated Quartz
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 17th century Italian gilt candlestick mounted on chalcopyrite and adorned with gold-plated kyanite. This fragment was originally part of a candlestick from a church in It...
Category

17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Quartz, Gold Plate, Gold Leaf, Metal

18th Century Italian Wood Tassel on a Polished Calcite Cube with Baroque Pearls
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian tassel on a polished calcite cube with coordinating natural-forming baroque pearls. This tassel originally came from a church in Italy. Many tassels were used to decorate churches on religious feast days. Others were commonly used to decorate 18-19th century French and Italian...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf

18th Century Italian Sunray with Tangerine Crystal Quartz on Angle-Plated Quartz
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian sunray adorned with tangerine crystal quartz points on an angle plated quartz. Angle-plated quartz is an extremely rare form of quartz and is only found in the u...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal

121.53 Gram Lustrous Pyrite Cube On Marl Matrix Rock Specimen From Spain
By Deloris "Dee" Giltz 1
Located in Peshawar, PK
Lustrous Pyrite Cube on Marl Matrix Rock Specimen from Spain Weight: 121.53 Gram DIM: 4.3 x 4.1 x 4.8 Cm Origin: Spain The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, also known as fool's gol...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Spanish Adam Style Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

18th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with Calcite Crystals in Matrix
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian "Florence Fragment" vase adorned with calcite crystals and mounted with calcite crystals in a zinc matrix. The calcite crystals are from the famous Elmwood Mine ...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Crystal, Zinc

18th Century Italian Fragment with Pyrite and a Baroque Pearl on a Lucite Base
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian fragment base with coordinating pyrite and a baroque pearl on a lucite base. The fragment was originally part of a hand-carved piece in a historical I...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Pyrite

Sculptural 18th Century Italian Candlestick Fragment with Galena and Pyrite
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian candlestick mounted with galena and pyrite deposits. The gilded fragment was originally part of a candlestick in a historical Italian church in Italy...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Pyrite, Gold Leaf

Modern Style Carved Rock Crystal and Marble Sculpture
Located in Cypress, CA
One-of-a-kind large modern style hand-carved and hand polished rock crystal sculpture on dark green rectangular base. The measurement for the base is width 15 inches x depth 12 in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Marble, Metal

Modern Style Carved Rock Crystal Sculpture
Located in Cypress, CA
One-of-a-kind Modern style hand-carved and hand polished rock crystal sculpture on artistic base. Sculpture tilts on its side. Rock crystal (crystal quartz) is a natural material born of the earth and touched by the hand of man...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal

Modern Style Rock Crystal Flame Sculpture
Located in Cypress, CA
Exquisite and large modern style hand carved and polished rock crystal abstract flame sculpture on silver leafed stand. Very decorative for the modern taste. Late 20th century. ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Iron, Silver Leaf

Pair of Deco Modern Spears, Polished Nickel, Rock Crystal, Marble
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Deco Modern Spears, Polished Nickel Rock Crystal, Black Marble base. Rock, Crystal is from Brazil. One of a kind decorations .
Category

20th Century Unknown Art Deco Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Marble, Nickel

Natural Agate Crystal Sphere in Blue and Purple Colors Decorative Piece
Located in Porto, 13
The natural agate crystal sphere in blue and purple colors is a decorative piece that can be hold by different bases that we do in Sterling Silver 925.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Agate, Rock Crystal

Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamonds, Silver, and Smoky Quartz Carved Horse
Located in Queens, NY
Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamonds, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, Jade, Mother-Of-Pearl and Smoky Quartz, Carved Horse Sculpture, Jeweled Mounted Object. An extremely rare and unique, one of a kind French gold, diamonds, Silver-gilt, rock-crystal, jade, obsidian, mother-of-pearl, and smoky quartz carved jeweled sculpture "CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE", "A Legendary Horse" by Mellerio, Paris, circa 1991. Sitting on black obsidian base, the solid rock-crystal slab is finely applied with a carved smoky -quartz and jade horse with a harness mounted in 18k gold, brilliant -cut diamonds, rubies, turquoise, and amethyst chains and pendants. The top columns adorned with 18k gold and brilliant cut diamond pendants, the bottom with gold and mother of pearl plaques. The obsidian base with a plaque engraved: CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE" / N° 05 / MELLERIO DITS MELLER / PARIS / 5003 D The piece is in excellent condition and comes with a custom made wood case made for transport. It's very elegant and has French hallmarks throughout. A truly magnificent piece. Measures 10.5" high x 8.5" wide x 4" deep Founded in France in 1613 by the descendants of Italian immigrants from the Vigezzo Valley in the north of Italy, Mellerio is one of the oldest jewellery houses in Europe. The family business soon attracted the attention of the Royal Court and Marie Antoinette herself reportedly purchased a precious bracelet featuring 7 cameos surrounded by rubies in 1780. Later on, in the 19th century, Mellerio became the official supplier of the French Royal family and the Court of Netherland. Mellerio creates many jewellery items, all set with rare gems such as peridots, amethysts, aquamarines, citrines and topaz, applying for a patent, the flexible stem, a very supple and light jewellery mechanism. Mellerio remains also well known for their spectacular series of Art Nouveau jewels, created at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as for the creation of trophies rewarding some of the greatest footfall and tennis players of history. In 1993, the jewellery house launched their first watch collection. Today, Mellerio has stores in Paris, Japan and Hong Kong. July 14, 1789: this date is known throughout the world as the beginning of the French Revolution. According to a ledger belonging to House of Mellerio, this was also the day that the jeweler sold a golden key to the Comte de Coutance for 10 livres. This ledger, as well as inventories dating as far back as 1768, are the jeweler’s oldest archives. These archives have continued to grow over the years, as the House, established on rue de la Paix in Paris, still lives on today, still in the hands of the same family from Craveggia, in the North of Italy. The tumultuous history of the Mellerio family in France probably goes as far back as the Italian wars of the Renaissance, but the first official document proving their commercial activity in Paris dates back to 1613. This document is the famous royal warrant awarded by Marie de Medici to a number of Italian families established along the rue des Lombards, including the Mellerios, allowing them to sell “small jewelery items”, therefore granting them a small exception to the traditional monopoly enjoyed by Parisian jewelers. At that time, powerful corporations regulated the operations and customs of Parisian business, but thanks to this exceptional warrant, the Mellerios managed to escape the confines of this framework. Today, this wax-sealed document is kept at the city hall of Craveggia. From 1613 to the Revolution, the Mellerios lived between France and Italy. The corporations tried many times to put an end to their trade privileges, but all in vain, as a dynasty of sovereigns renewed the warrant. Always marrying and often retiring in Craveggia, the Mellerios continued to maintain their jewelry business in Paris. At first, they did this without a shop. Wearing backpacks (wooden boxes divided into small compartments where jewels were kept), they would tour town fairs around Paris and royal castles. This is how Jean-Baptiste Mellerio (1765-1850) is said to have sold a bracelet set with rubies and Antique cameos to Marie-Antoinette, which still exists today. Many elements seem to prove the veracity of this anecdote. The queen was particularly fond of cameos, which cover the entire background of her famous jewelry cabinet, and ruby was her favorite stone after diamond. The famous bracelet, reacquired a few years ago by the House of Mellerio, is indeed an 18th century jewel, set with antique cameos representing the profiles of Roman emperors. Two branches of the family were operating in Paris during this time, under the reign of Louis XVI: that of Jean-François (1746-1828), the paternal ancestor of the current Mellerios, and that of Jean-Baptiste (1765-1850). The French Revolution forced them to return to Italy. However, both Jean-Baptiste and François Mellerio (1772-1843), who was the son of Jean-François, were eventually able to return to Paris after the founding of the Consulate. Jean-Baptiste opened a shop at the Iron Crown of rue Vivienne, and François opened his at the Palais des Tuileries, rue du Coq Saint-Honoré. His well-organized order books give an idea of his high-ranking clientele during the “Old Regime”, among which were the Comte and Comtesse Octave de Segur, the Marquise (later Duchess) de Tourzel, former governess of the royal children, and her daughter, the Comtesse de Bearn, the Craufurds -who organized the flight to Varennes, the Duc and Duchess de Gramont, the Comtesse de Boigne, and Madame de Souza, Talleyrand’s mistress. We also see the names of the imperial family: Empress Josephine, the Queen of Holland, Princess Elisa, Caroline and Pauline. At that time, the House of Mellerio specialized, among other things, in the trade of antique cameos, a newly fashionable genre of jewel that captured the imagination of all the princesses and noble women of the time. The years of the Restauration and July Monarchy were among the most glorious. The Bourbons were back on the throne, and the clientele of the House of Mellerio had regained its former wealth. Mellerio supplied Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as well as his mother, wife and sister, with sumptuous jewels, including a set of emeralds made piece by piece, while the Duke of Bourbon, last prince of the House of Condé, offered diamonds to his mistress, the scheming Baronne de Feucheres, and Monsieur de LaFayette also bought cameos for one of his granddaughters. For the first time, Mellerio ventured into the world of arts in 1815, when Carlotta Grisi, a famous dancer who created Giselle, as well as an actress named Rachel, bought jewels at the Mellerio store on rue de la Paix. 1848 marked a new turning point. France once again became a Republic. François Mellerio handed the company over to his son, Jean, and the latter decided to travel to Spain to build a new clientele. He later became one of the jewelers of the royal family, and met Eugénie de Montijo, who remained a faithful client when she became empress of the French people. The Imperial years were lavish. During the Second Empire, Paris was a pageant of crinoline dresses designed by Worth, while jewels by Mellerio, Worth’s neighbour on the rue de la Paix, adorned the noble women of the Tuileries court. The Empress bought pearls. Mathilde Bonaparte...
Category

20th Century French Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Jade, Quartz, Gold, Silver

Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamond, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, & Lapis Horse
Located in Queens, NY
Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamond, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, Obsidian & Lapis Horse An extremely rare and unique, one of a kind French gold, diamonds, Silver-gilt rock-crystal, obsidian and lapis lazuli jeweled sculpture "Bucéphale, Chevaux de légende", "Bucephalus, A Legendary Horse" by Mellerio, Paris, circa 1998. Sitting on black obsidian base, the solid rock crystal slab is finely applied with a lapis lazuli half-horse with harness mounted in 18k gold and brilliant cut diamonds, between two crystal and lapis lazuli columns adorned with gold and diamonds, insert with 7 ruby cabochons and 1 emerald cabochon, the obsidian base with a plaque engraved: CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE / MELLERIO DITS MELLER / PARIS / 5029 DIV Bucephalus (c355-326 BC) is among the most famous horses in history, and it was said that this he could not be tamed. The young Alexander the Great, of course, tamed him – and went on to ride his beloved equine companion for many years and into many battles. The piece is in excellent condition and comes with a custom made wood case made for transport. It's very elegant and has French hallmarks throughout. A truly magnificent piece. Measures 10" high x 9" wide x 4" deep Founded in France in 1613 by the descendants of Italian immigrants from the Vigezzo Valley in the north of Italy, Mellerio is one of the oldest jewellery houses in Europe. The family business soon attracted the attention of the Royal Court and Marie Antoinette herself reportedly purchased a precious bracelet featuring 7 cameos surrounded by rubies in 1780. Later on, in the 19th century, Mellerio became the official supplier of the French Royal family and the Court of Netherland. Mellerio creates many jewellery items, all set with rare gems such as peridots, amethysts, aquamarines, citrines and topaz, applying for a patent, the flexible stem, a very supple and light jewellery mechanism. Mellerio remains also well known for their spectacular series of Art Nouveau jewels, created at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as for the creation of trophies rewarding some of the greatest footfall and tennis players of history. In 1993, the jewellery house launched their first watch collection. Today, Mellerio has stores in Paris, Japan and Hong Kong. July 14, 1789: this date is known throughout the world as the beginning of the French Revolution. According to a ledger belonging to House of Mellerio, this was also the day that the jeweler sold a golden key to the Comte de Coutance for 10 livres. This ledger, as well as inventories dating as far back as 1768, are the jeweler’s oldest archives. These archives have continued to grow over the years, as the House, established on rue de la Paix in Paris, still lives on today, still in the hands of the same family from Craveggia, in the North of Italy. The tumultuous history of the Mellerio family in France probably goes as far back as the Italian wars of the Renaissance, but the first official document proving their commercial activity in Paris dates back to 1613. This document is the famous royal warrant awarded by Marie de Medici to a number of Italian families established along the rue des Lombards, including the Mellerios, allowing them to sell “small jewelery items”, therefore granting them a small exception to the traditional monopoly enjoyed by Parisian jewelers. At that time, powerful corporations regulated the operations and customs of Parisian business, but thanks to this exceptional warrant, the Mellerios managed to escape the confines of this framework. Today, this wax-sealed document is kept at the city hall of Craveggia. From 1613 to the Revolution, the Mellerios lived between France and Italy. The corporations tried many times to put an end to their trade privileges, but all in vain, as a dynasty of sovereigns renewed the warrant. Always marrying and often retiring in Craveggia, the Mellerios continued to maintain their jewelry business in Paris. At first, they did this without a shop. Wearing backpacks (wooden boxes divided into small compartments where jewels were kept), they would tour town fairs around Paris and royal castles. This is how Jean-Baptiste Mellerio (1765-1850) is said to have sold a bracelet set with rubies and Antique cameos to Marie-Antoinette, which still exists today. Many elements seem to prove the veracity of this anecdote. The queen was particularly fond of cameos, which cover the entire background of her famous jewelry cabinet, and ruby was her favorite stone after diamond. The famous bracelet, reacquired a few years ago by the House of Mellerio, is indeed an 18th century jewel, set with antique cameos representing the profiles of Roman emperors. Two branches of the family were operating in Paris during this time, under the reign of Louis XVI: that of Jean-François (1746-1828), the paternal ancestor of the current Mellerios, and that of Jean-Baptiste (1765-1850). The French Revolution forced them to return to Italy. However, both Jean-Baptiste and François Mellerio (1772-1843), who was the son of Jean-François, were eventually able to return to Paris after the founding of the Consulate. Jean-Baptiste opened a shop at the Iron Crown of rue Vivienne, and François opened his at the Palais des Tuileries, rue du Coq Saint-Honoré. His well-organized order books give an idea of his high-ranking clientele during the “Old Regime”, among which were the Comte and Comtesse Octave de Segur, the Marquise (later Duchess) de Tourzel, former governess of the royal children, and her daughter, the Comtesse de Bearn, the Craufurds -who organized the flight to Varennes, the Duc and Duchess de Gramont, the Comtesse de Boigne, and Madame de Souza, Talleyrand’s mistress. We also see the names of the imperial family: Empress Josephine, the Queen of Holland, Princess Elisa, Caroline and Pauline. At that time, the House of Mellerio specialized, among other things, in the trade of antique cameos, a newly fashionable genre of jewel that captured the imagination of all the princesses and noble women of the time. The years of the Restauration and July Monarchy were among the most glorious. The Bourbons were back on the throne, and the clientele of the House of Mellerio had regained its former wealth. Mellerio supplied Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as well as his mother, wife and sister, with sumptuous jewels, including a set of emeralds made piece by piece, while the Duke of Bourbon, last prince of the House of Condé, offered diamonds to his mistress, the scheming Baronne de Feucheres, and Monsieur de LaFayette also bought cameos for one of his granddaughters. For the first time, Mellerio ventured into the world of arts in 1815, when Carlotta Grisi, a famous dancer who created Giselle, as well as an actress named Rachel, bought jewels at the Mellerio store on rue de la Paix. 1848 marked a new turning point. France once again became a Republic. François Mellerio handed the company over to his son, Jean, and the latter decided to travel to Spain to build a new clientele. He later became one of the jewelers of the royal family, and met Eugénie de Montijo, who remained a faithful client when she became empress of the French people. The Imperial years were lavish. During the Second Empire, Paris was a pageant of crinoline dresses designed by Worth, while jewels by Mellerio, Worth’s neighbour on the rue de la Paix, adorned the noble women of the Tuileries court. The Empress bought pearls. Mathilde Bonaparte...
Category

20th Century French Rock Crystal Mounted Objects

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver

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