Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

16thCentury RockCrystal Hogback ScissorCut Silver HighRelief Scrollwork Pendant

About the Item

In a rare scissor cut dating to the 1500s, this centuries-old prong-set hogback rock-crystal pendant produces a fascinating play of refractions in low light. With its rectangular narrow-edge silver frame decorated with high-relief curvy scrollwork and chasing on both sides, the bail-topped pendant was meant to be seen in its entirety, such as dangling from its jump-ring with turning movement that reveals both the hogback and table-cut sides of the crystal--ideally in flickering candlelight. When seen from certain angles, the bold reflections of the x-shaped sides of the crystal makes some of its edges momentarily appear to be darkly metallic. Our additional new photos show how brilliant it is in dim light--without lit candles. It may have been commissioned to be worn as a brooch hanging from a hat or as an earring. If worn as a pendant on a necklace, the deep pavilion of the crystal would face outward as it will not lay against the chest like its opposite flat crown. By the 1700s, this antique variety of French-cut gem had almost disappeared in favor of the newer brilliant cut. The scissor cut was briefly popular during the Art-Deco period for geometric colored-gem jewelry, which was accentuated by its uniquely large triangular-and-diamond-shaped cuts. Scissor-cut rock crystals can be found in Renaissance collections of leading European museums, while the nobility-commissioned objects are mostly identified as French, Austrian or German. Unlike diamonds over centuries, rock crystal was not recut to suit new lapidary fashions.
More From This SellerView All
  • Artist 1980s NevelsonStyle Sculptural GiltMetal Crushed Jagged Pendant Necklace
    By Contemporary
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Louise Nevelson, an American modern sculptor who enhanced found objects throughout the 20th Century, in the 1980s transformed found, crushed and gilt m...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s American Artist Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Brass, Gilt Metal

  • MiriamHaskell 1926-1929 FrankHess Glass Crystal Shell Pearl Coral Silver Sautoir
    By Frank Hess for Miriam Haskell
    Located in Chicago, IL
    In the late 1920s during the Art-Deco period, this Miriam Haskell white mostly glass-beaded sautoir was created in New York City by her first designer Frank Hess. This uniquely hand-...
    Category

    Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Crystal, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Coral, Silver

  • Dolce&Gabbana 2000 Runway Accessory PaleSilkRoseFlower Boutonniere Pendant
    By Dolce & Gabbana
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Dolce & Gabbana featured silk-rose jewelry like this versatile pale-peach seven-inch-diameter accessory on many of the runway looks from the design-duo's Spring/Summer 2000 collection (see photo). The rose is a signature motif of this pair of Italian designers, while the Dolce & Gabbana brand tag is sewn to the back of this piece that was "Made in Italy" in 1999. The unusual "cufflink" hardware on the back of the faux rose enables it to be secured through a buttonhole or as a pendant for a necklace, neckerchief, or narrow belt...
    Category

    1990s Italian Romantic Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Base Metal

  • Givenchy 1976 Dated GG Logo Gilt Bar Pendant SnakeChain TwoTone Choker Necklace
    By Givenchy
    Located in Chicago, IL
    From the same 1976 collection by Hubert de Givenchy (1927-2018) as this necklace, TheMet acquired a similar design (accession 1984.598.41). Without the rhinestones of the museum-collected piece (see our photo for comparison), this signed and dated two-tone gilt snake-chain choker features a similar curvilinear interlocking metal...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces

    Materials

    Gilt Metal, Gold, Silver

  • 18thCentury EnamelDoublePainting SilverFiligree SpanishRococo AprilBirth Pendant
    Located in Chicago, IL
    This early 18th-Century Spanish Rococo period silver-filigree double-sided pendant with dangle features miniature colorful enamel devotional paintings on both sides of a white porcelain centerpiece, which are associated with an April birth. One side depicts a mountain landscape with a haloed richly-robed dark woman holding a lap-seated dark child and a holy orb...
    Category

    Antique Early 18th Century Spanish Rococo Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Silver, Enamel

  • 16thCentury Renaissance GiltFiligree Silver PaintedAngel CrystalMedallionPendant
    Located in Chicago, IL
    With artistic value as a Renaissance chiaroscuro painting, this early 16th-Century period gilt silver-filigree pendant medallion encases a colorf...
    Category

    Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Crystal, Silver, Enamel, Copper, Gold

You May Also Like
  • Round Brilliant Diamond Pendant in Platinum GIA Certified 2.02 Carat D Color SI1
    By Tinguely Bijoux
    Located in Boston, MA
    A stunning round brilliant cut diamond pendant with diamond surround set in platinum. The center diamond weighs 2.02 carats, is assessed as D color and SI1 clarity via GIA certificat...
    Category

    2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

  • White Gold 18 Karat Chain Necklace with Five Heart Pendants with Diamonds
    Located in Rome, IT
    Chain necklace in 18 karat white gold and five drop pendant with diamonds Total diamonds weight: 0.85 carat Total length: 45 cm / 17.7 inch The necklace has an additional ring for d...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

  • 18 Karat White Gold Chain Necklace with Rectangular Diamonds Pendant
    Located in Rome, IT
    18 karat white gold chain necklace with rectangular pendant diamonds and four round diamonds The pendant has five baguette cut diamonds and 28 round cut diamonds all around The chai...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chain Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

  • Necklace White Gold and Diamonds, Pendants with White and Black Pearls S.S.
    Located in Rome, IT
    Necklace in 18 Kt white gold and diamonds, with 15 pendants of various sizes and designs. The pendants are in diamonds with South Sea cultured pearls. There are twelve pearls: six wh...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Black Pearl, Natural Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Gold

  • 18 Carat Yellow Gold set Amethyst Pendant Necklace
    By Esther Eyre
    Located in London, GB
    This is an extraordinary, one of a kind Siberian Amethyst at 28ct set in an 18ct yellow gold coral reef mount with 5 diamonds. The pendant is suspended on an 18ct yellow gold 16” Fox...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary British Baroque Revival Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold

  • 18ct White Gold Reef Pendant with 79.48ct Aquamarine, Diamonds & Blue Topaz
    By Esther Eyre
    Located in London, GB
    This breath-taking Aquamarine from Brazil is 79.48 cts mounted is the star of Esther Eyre's 'Reef Collection'. It's 18ct white gold coral setting is scattered with diamonds (total 0....
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary British Belle Époque Pendant Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Blue Topaz, Aquamarine, Topaz, White Gold

Recently Viewed

View All