The Antique Jewellery Company Christmas Gift Bow The Gift Guide
Latest Finds Most Popular Expert Picks The Archive Sale Eras Collections
Contact Book a Consultation
Wishlist Sign In
The Antique Jewellery Company
10% off with LASTMIN10
Free Shipping across Australia
The Antique Jewellery Company Experts since 1975Read Our Story
The Antique Jewellery Company

Reverse Intaglio Rock Crystal Horse’s Head Cufflinks

956C/PR
Written by Olly Gerrish

A good pair of reverse intaglio rock crystal cufflinks. A reverse crystal intaglio is a rock crystal cabochon with an intaglio carved into the flat back. The intaglio was also painted realistically with oils so, that when viewed through the top, the image appears three-dimensional. Finally, the back was sealed in order to preserve the painted areas. The technique originated in Belgium c. 1860 and is attributed to an artist named Emile Marius Pradier. This technique was also practiced in England by Thomas Cook and his descendants who made crystals for Lambeth & Co.
Production of a reverse crystal intaglio begins with the mining and cutting of fine rock crystal from Brazil or Madagascar. A well-formed cabochon is the key to a beautifully made reverse intaglio and the tedious process of hand polishing it to perfection had to be completed before the design work could begin. A watercolour of the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and diamond dust mixture was used along with up to 250 scribing tools to carve the design into the interior of the crystal “…the deeper the carving the more pronounced trompe l’oeil effect.” Once the carving was established the painting process began with extremely fine brushes and paint working in reverse to create incredibly detailed images.
The motifs most commonly found are sporting themes – horses, dogs, foxes and birds. This relatively secret process passed through family members, so keeping it exclusive and expectations of quality were very high. They remained in fashion until poorly made glass and plastic imitations flooded the market c. 1920s. They were made circa 1900-1910. They are very collectable today, and are hard to find, especially in good condition.

AUD$4,900 excluding Taxes & Duties More Info

including Free Box
Get 10% off with LASTMIN10
AJC VIP
Join to earn 4,900 Rewards Points from this item
More Info
  • Add to Wishlist
Item Number
956C/PR
Measurements
Diameter 1.5 cm
Materials
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Condition
Very good
Discovered
10 years ago

We are pleased to offer FREE SHIPPING on all purchases to our customers in Australia.

All orders are fully insured and dispatched securely from London, England by our trusted partner, DHL Express Worldwide.

Estimated Shipping to Australia:
5-7 working days

More info

We calculate all customs, taxes and duties at checkout, to ensure a smooth journey with no unexpected fees along the way.

When purchasing items over 100 years old:
- Customs, taxes and duty DO NOT apply
- We will mark your package as 'antique, over 100 years old', to ensure no unexpected additional fees

When purchasing items under 100 years old:
- Customs, taxes and duty DO apply
- All customs, taxes and duties will be calculated at checkout and added to the total cost of the order
- We guarantees a smooth and transparent delivery with no unexpected additional fees

We offer a 30 day, full money-back guarantee on all purchases.

Customers from Australia will pay for return postage and any customs, taxes and duties applied.

More info
Shipping

Free Shipping

Complimentary on all orders

More info
Returns

Easy Returns

Up to 30 days

More info
Ring Sizing

Free Sizing

On all ring purchases

More info
Payments

Secure Payments

Using industry-leading technology

More info
AJC Townhouse
Reverse Intaglio Rock Crystal Horse's Head Cufflinks

Want a Closer Look?

Book a virtual appointment with one of our resident jewellery experts, here in London.

Book Your Virtual Consultation
Sustainable Luxury

The Responsible Choice

Buying antique jewellery is both ethical and eco-friendly as harmful and destructive mining processes are not needed to make an item yours. So give yourself a pat on the back!

Find Out More
Sustainable Luxury
AJC Guarantee
Our Guarantee

Our Guarantee

We always stand by our five core principles:
Quality, Rarity, Expertise, Peace of Mind and Personal Touch

Find Out More