The Antique Jewellery Company
Latest Finds Most Popular Expert Picks The Archive Sale Eras Collections
Contact Book a Consultation
Wishlist Sign In
The Antique Jewellery Company
Free Shipping, Returns & Sizing
Book Your Appointment
The Antique Jewellery Company Experts since 1975Read Our Story
The Antique Jewellery Company

Victorian 18ct Gold & Reverse Intaglio Rock Crystal Brooch of a Horse’s Head

681H
Written by Olly Gerrish

A very finely executed reverse crystal of an Arabian horse with a white blaze, small pointed ears and such an alert look in his face. The art of reverse crystal intaglio is incredible. The crystal was sourced in Brazil and Madagascar. A well-formed 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 with the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and 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 using very fine brushes and paint work in reverse to create highly detailed images, 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. In England Thomas Cook made crystals for Lambeth & Co. Mr. Cook was succeeded by his apprentice, Thomas Bean. Bean’s son and grandson carried on the tradition of reverse crystal intaglios.
Reverse crystal intaglios were set as stickpins, buttons and studs, mounted on tie pins, cuff links, lockets, pendants and brooches. This relatively secret process, with its techniques passed through family members, kept it exclusive and expectations of quality were very high. They remained in fashion until poorly made glass and plastic imitations flooded the market c. 1920.
This example is really fine quality, and mounted in an gold.

Item Number
681H
Measurements
Diameter 22 mm
Item Materials
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Hallmarks
Unmarked, tested to 18ct gold
Condition
Very Good
Discovered
8 years ago
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