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Victorian Large 18ct Gold Pendant with Reverse Intaglio Rock Crystal Intaglio of a Stag in Original Case

559X
Written by Olly Gerrish

A fantastic and large example of a reverse intaglio crystal of a stag. The pendant was made circa 1860-1880 and is mounted in an 18ct gold Etruscan Revival mount.

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.

This rare pendant may have been a commission piece and comes in its original Morocco leather case.

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Item Number
559X
Measurements
Case 8.5cm by 6cm by 4cm
Pendant height from top of bale to base 6cm
From top of pendant to base 4.8cm
Width at widest point 3.8cm
Rock crystal depth 9mm.
Materials
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Hallmarks
Unmarked. 18ct gold.
Condition
Very Good
Care Tips
  • Take special care of historical jewellery
Discovered
1 month ago

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Victorian Large 18ct Gold Pendant with Reverse Intaglio Rock Crystal Intaglio of a Stag in Original Case

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