Late 19th-Century Enameled Brooch with Diamonds by Falize

Louis Wièse Cape Clasp France (Paris), c. 1890 Silver, opals Weight 102.8 gr.; Length 22.23 cm.; individual clasp diameter(s) c. 44 mm. Two openwork roundels in relief show a Chinese dragon head in cast and chased silver, entwined by a serpentine body with bird’s feet and talons. The eyes are formed of opal cabochons. Both roundels are joined by a wire loop and hook as clasp and eight chain links of twisted wire with intersecting plain loops. Traces of gilt remain. On the reverse along the edge of both roundels is the maker’s mark “WIESE” for Louis Wièse. This beguiling cloak clasp...

Joan of Arc Ring by Louis Wièse (1852-1930) France, c. 1890 Gold Weight 9.3 gr.; Circumference 56.45 mm.; US size 7 3/4; UK size P ½ Cast and chased openwork gold ring with square section hoop, grooved on the lower half and forked at the shoulder to form a triangular frame for a Gothic trefoil...

Squirt Ring West European, 1800-1900 Silver, gold, rock crystal Weight 9.4 gr.; circumference 60.38 mm.; cylinder length 41.2 mm US size 9 ¼ ; UK size S ¼ Fascinating nineteenth century party piece, incorporating an elegant and sparkling ring Description: Squirt ring made of a hollow silver cylinder with four ornamental bands and a cap with plunger. This holds the liquid, and when the plunger is pulled out and pushed back in the squirt mechanism is triggered. At the other end is a hollow ring through which the liquid flows and then squirts out of a small hole on the band next to the gemstone. The gold ring, angled to the cylinder, has a tubular hoop and a gold round-shaped cup bezel with a silver-set, facetted rock crystal gemstone. The ring is fully functionable. The cylinder lies concealed in the palm of the hand. Punched on the cylinder is a swan, the French guarantee mark for the fineness of silver on items of unknown origin (in use from 1893-1970). Along the gold hoop of the ring are four indistinct hallmarks: a helmeted head (?), two rectangular punch marks, one with lower case ‘g’ in the corner, and traces of two illegible punches. Provenance: Yves Brasseur (26 February—11 August 2005), Ghent, Belgium, a collector of rings who was a Belgian fencer of Olympic stature, having competed in this sport in the Olympics in the 1960s. Literature: The earliest account of a squirt ring dates to about 1770 with the description of a diplomatic incident at the Court of Frederick the Great. The French ambassador M. de Guines belonged to the diplomatic corps in Berlin, the capital of the Prussian Empire. His pompous behavior was widely mocked. Prince Dolgorouki, the Russian ambassador was invited to a gala dinner as a guest of honor with his newly wed bride. She was seated next to the French ambassador whom she squirted with water from a mechanism concealed in the palm of her hand, when he was admiring her jewel. He vowed he would throw a glass of water at her if she continued. The ambassador’s wife ignored his warning, and he in fact put his threat into effect. The guests at the dinner were obliged to keep a discreet silence surrounding this embarrassing occurrence. The fashion for such squirt rings appears to have continued into the nineteenth century, although few examples are known. The designs and materials vary: bronze ring with mask of Silenus in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Silenus, the god of wine-making and drunkenness, appears again on a squirt ring in form of a garnet cameo...

Portrait Cameo of Emperor Vespasian in a Gold Brooch Agate, gold Italy?, 16th century Weight 10.2 gr.; Dimensions 48.7 × 39 mm. Description: Three-layered agate cameo (black-white-...

Carlo Giuliano HEART-SHAPED PENDANT WITH CHERUB England (London), c. 1880 Gold, enamel, seed pearls Weight 8.6 gr.; Height 33.3 (42.1 with loop) mm; Width 30.8 mm; Of all the Reviv...

RELIQUARY PENDANT WITH PEARL Spain or Spanish Netherlands, c. 1620 Gold, rock crystal, enamel, pearl, bone relics Weight 12.9 grams; dimensions 40 ...

A late 19th century French enamel and diamond brooch, the centre depicting an enamelled Egyptian Queen with rose-cut diamond-set headdress decorations, within a rose diamond-set crescent, all mounted in yellow gold with a pierced gallery, bearing French gold marks for 18ct gold, Paris 1847-1919, makers mark P.B. , circa 1880, measuring approximately 2.8cm in diameter, gross weight 5.4grams. This antique brooch is in good condition, minimal enamel defiant. An exquisite late-nineteenth century Egyptian revival enamel and diamond brooch from the collection of Bentley & Skinner, the London jewellers by appointment to both Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. After Napoleon’s Egyptian...

A late nineteenth century diamond brooch, finely modelled in the form of a violin, the body encrusted with rose-cut diamonds and the strings, neck and head in rose gold, French Impor...

Lyra-shaped brooch – Made in Italy – Late 19th century. The brooch is set with 25 rose cut natural diamonds. The main body is made of gold, while the upper part and settings are in...

The central plaque decorated with a polychrome enamel female deity gazing the dove on the pearl paviment. Under the scene we can find a snake. Width 4.5cm

A delightful ‘en Tremblant’ brooch, c1890. Exceptionally hand-fabricated in silver topped gold, this piece centers on a freeform spray of flowers, lined in shimmering rose cut and ol...

A late 19th century fly brooch, the bee set with a dementoid garnet, a ruby eye, diamond wings and a pearl body, set in silver and gold, with a further pear...