Fantastic Oversized antique French brooch.
A very nice early French piece, created during the Georgian period, around the 1810's. Carefully crafted in solid .830/1000 sterling silver and suited at the reverse, with a hinged horizontal pin with a hook lock.
Is embellished, with a mix of larger quartz gems cuts and small simulated gemstones in paste.
Excellent workmanship with black dots and prong set on top of the silver with open backs.
Paste, is a gem like material made from a secret formula of leaded glass invented by George Ravenscroft, a 17th century London glassmaker and later perfected by George Strass, an 18th century French jeweler, designed to resemble precious gemstones.
This piece is pretty heavy and large with a total weight of 87.4 grams and a measures of 90 mm by 83 mm (3.52 by 3.28 inches).
Stamped, with multiples French hallmarks; three times with the maker's maitre cartouche and three times with the boar head, for the assay and guaranty of the .830 silver.
Note: This piece have remains of the original gilding in some parts of the reverse.
Literature: Antique Paste jewelry...
Category
French Georgian Antique 1810s Necklaces
MaterialsQuartz, Silver, Yellow Gold