Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry (230)

Exquisite Georgian verre églomisé, or gilded glass, portrait ring surrounded by seed pearls. Verre églomisé is a French term meaning gilded glass and is a decorative technique in which the back side of glass is gilded with gold leaf. The gilding may also be combined with reverse painting on glass as in this case. This ring has very large verre églomisé panel with a black silhouette of a peasant girl against a gilded background...

In this stunning suite of necklace and earrings, almandine garnets set in gilt metal are fashioned into a striking pair of earrings and choker with drop, which can be removed. The choker is tied on with a ribbon. Much of the jewelry of this period was set with pastes. These pieces are unusual in that gemstones were used. Though called "Queen Anne", jewelry of this type was actually made some 30 odd years after her reign.

our early C1790 Georgian 18K seven stone diamond half hoop ring has seven table-cut diamonds (flat on top, faceted sides). The ring is closed back and the diamonds are foiled backed, exactly the way gemstone rings were made in the Georgian period. The diamonds are mounted in silver and set in gold, as the Georgians believed silver was better suited to set off the cool white tones of diamonds. This ring would make a lovely engagement ring or gift to oneself. The ring is a size 7.

Amazing "Queen Anne" amethyst paste necklace and earrings set in gilt metal. This style of jewelry has been historically misnamed for Queen Anne, who reigned from 1695 to 1714, as it was made in the mid 18th century. The vivid purple paste stones used are faceted as rose cuts. The earrings have back to front fittings and fit close to the earlobe. The necklace is fastened with a ribbon.

Georgian 18K gold memorial ring set under crystal with a curl of hair and adorned with four rose diamonds. The inscription reads "John Holman ob 28 Oct 1777 age 45. This exquisite ring is a testament to the feelings of this man's loved ones. The ring is a size 8 and can be resized. It measures 5/8" wide by 3/4" high.

Marquis shaped memorialized ring of plaited hair set in 18K yellow gold with the initials LC in gold. The underside of the ring is engraved B.L.C. ob Nov 10 1789 aet 37;. The ring is a size 5 1/2 and due to its small size it was likely worn by the wife of the deceased as a memento while he traveled. The ring measures 1 1/4 at its widest. A wonderful piece honoring love.

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

C 1760 Rare Chelsea seal of a harlequin boy in black face mask with a metal ring at the top. The colors are magnificent. The seal evokes the Commedia dell'Arte, an early form of popular comedic masked theater originating in Italy and popular in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century. The harlequin alone is rare; a harlequin in blackface, rarer still...

Georgian diamond ring in a snowflake motif set in silver with an 18K band will sparkle in sunlight and candlelight. Notice the gorgeous back, a work of art in and of itself. The ring back is cut down so that the metal is cut to fit the stones and gives a more refined appearance to the ring. The ring is size 6 1/2 and can be sized to fit.

This is an original 18th century Gouyn period porcelain Chelsea fob seal. This seal features Cupid, quiver slung over his shoulder, standing by an altar sacrificing a heart and reads, Je Vous L'offre, "I offer it (my heart) to you". These seals were given as love tokens by the wealthy and known as "toys". Charles Gouyn, a French jeweler , with Nicholas Sprimont a silversmith founded the Chelsea Factory in 1743...

Eye catching 15K gold and amethyst ring surrounded by pave set chrysoberyls from Portuguese mines in Brazil. Fabulous jewelry was made from the various gemstones exported from these mines until the French invasion of Portugal in 1809. The ring is size 8 1/4 and can be sized to fit.

This wonderful 18K Scottish fob features an imposing tower, the symbol for the Mason family crest. The fob is carved with a motto which reads "Demeure Par La Verite" and translates to "Keep Fast By the Truth". Keep fast by the truth is rooted in the bible: from the Gospel of John, it means remain faithful to the word of God and one will be rewarded with a fruitful life. Our fob is 1.5" tall and just shy of 1.5" wide...

Antique 19th century Berlin Iron necklace with a Berlin Iron heart and cross. Berlin Iron jewelry is highly prized for its 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...

Amazing "Queen Anne" amethyst paste earrings set in gilt metal. This style of jewelry has been historically misnamed for Queen Anne, who reigned from 1695 to 1714, as so called Queen Anne jewelry dates to the mid 18th century. The vivid purple paste stones used are faceted as rose cuts. The earrings have back to front fittings and fit close to the earlobe. There is a matching necklace sold separately.

A lovely pair of white paste earrings closed back set in silver gilt. Approximately 18 MM or .7 inches in width, these well scaled earrings can be dressed up or down. Made of "paste", a special glass and lead formula originating from George Ravenscroft, a London glassmaker, during the 17th century and perfected by a French jeweler Georges Strass in the 18th century. Each "paste" was handcarved to fit the setting. Paste has become very collectible and desirable and can no longer be made today...

Late 18th century Portuguese tiered cluster rock crystal ring with 2 concentric rows of bright crystals, each approximately 3mm in diameter, surrounding a larger central stone, approximately 39 stones in all. This substantial ring covers the finger from joint to knuckle. The cut down bezel features a rose gold beaded trim, another feature of rings from the era. The polished rose gold closed back molds ergonomically to the finger...

These lovely 18K day-night floral gold cannetille earrings boast one of the finest examples of cannetille gold work we have ever seen. Popular in both England and France in the 1820's, cannetille was a type of filigree work named after the gold embroideries of the Napoleonic era. It lasted for a brief 2 decades, making it easy to date a piece of jewelry that is as fine an example of cannetille as these...