The term "pique" comes from the French word "piquer" (to prick) and describes a method of inlaying gold or silver onto tortoiseshell. The craft was discovered and perfected in the 17th century by the French Huguenots. The Huguenots later taught the craft to English jewelry artisans. These classical pique earrings with their Greek key design, are a perfect example of the sophistication, polish, depth and natural beauty of pique jewelry...
This sterling pin cushion in the form of a swan, is hallmarked Chester, 1911.
Condition: excellent Height: 1.5 inches Width: 2 inches
Victorian Pietra Dura earrings of a butterfly, set in 9K gold. Pietra dura is a form of micro-mosaic made with pieces of hard stone such as agate, and cemented into black marble. It is also known as Florentine mosaic as Florence, Italy was the center of manufacture of these wonderful pieces. Red is a particularly rare color to find in Pietra dura. The earrings are set onto 14K ear wires.
c. 1810. 3 1/2" W x 6 1/2" L x 5" H. With two very small chips. Condition: excellent
c. 1820, 6 1/4" H. Condition: excellent
Early 19th century Berlin Iron bracelets with a floral motif and cameo clasps of Psyche and Cupid. Berlin Iron jewelry is highly prized for is intricate work and rarity. During the Napoleonic Wars wealthy Germans gave their precious jewels for the war effort and substituted them with iron jewelry. Some of the pieces were inscribed "Gold gab ich fur Eisen" meaning "I gave gold for iron". Today these pieces are as desirable as in the early 1800's...
c. 1800. Cup: 3 1/4" diameter x 2 7/8" height. Saucer: 5 1/4" diameter. Condition: excellent
c. 1810. 6 1/4" x 8". Condition: excellent
c. 1820. Cup: 3 1/4" diameter x 2 1/4"Height. Saucer: 5 1/2" diameter. Color over Adam Buck style bat prints. Condition: excellent
c. 1800. Cup: 3 1/2" diameter x 2 1/4"Height. Saucer: 5 1/2" diameter. Color over Adam Buck style bat prints. Condition: excellent
Colorful depiction of a peasant girl graces this micromosaic brooch purchased during the Grand Tour and brought back to England to be set in an elaborate 18K bezel decorated with grapes and leaves. The glass tesserae are set in malachite.
Unusual 15K gold memorial ring depicting an urn in hair paint, surrounded by alternating rose diamonds and amethysts. The enameled band reads "John Jenkins died 20 Feb 1780". The back of the ring is engraved "In loving one sincerely there is great merit".
Condition: excellent
Mason's popular pattern in a hard to find soup plate, 9 1/4" diameter. Condition: excellent
c.1810, 11" x 7 1/2". Condition: excellent
Our marquis shaped 18K ring, carved in the shape of the pointed oval and emblematic of the gothic arch, has twelve old-cut rubies and a central cabochon opal accented with rose diamonds. The ring is a "marquis within a marquis" in the way the rubies form the outside border of another border of gold trim, which forms a marquis shape that encloses the cabochon opal and accent diamonds...
c. 1780. Saucer: 4 3/4" diameter. Cup: 3"diameter x 1 3/4" Height. Condition: excellent
Lowestoft soft-paste teabowl and saucer in the Schoolhouse pattern.
c. 1780. Saucer: 4 3/4" diameter. Cup: 3"diameter x 1 3/4" Height. Condition: excellent
Lava cameo brooch of Demeter (known to the Romans as Ceres) with a crown of wheat sheaves in her hair. The gold openwork bezel is of 12K and is pointed around the frame, a nice detail, and rather unusual, on the gold work. The brooch was possibly a souvenir from Italy acquired by a traveler on the European Grand Tour...
