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Victorian Essex Crystal Reverse Painted Intaglio 16ct Gold Circa 1875

Sale price$1,400.00 AUD

Laybys welcome! Contact Us today to secure your dream piece.
Victorian stickpin of what we believe is a Terrier or an Italian Greyhound, exquisitely hand painted in reverse intaglio in Rock Crystal.

The pin has a reverse painted rock crystal dome with, we believe, gold foiled backing seen in the early examples of Essex crystals, painted in realistic detail with a single hair brush to create a three dimensional trompe l’oeil effect- (This gives the image a three dimensional look called trompe-l’oeil, an art technique which uses realistic imagery to create an optical illusion of three dimensional imagery).

This technique was believed to have originated in Belgium with Emile Marius Pradier (circa 1860).  However Essex crystals wrongly acquired their name from William Essex, an artist who was renowned for his miniature enamel. 
Constructed from 16ct gold (XRF tested as such).

Highly collectable and increasingly hard to source in such fine condition and masterfully painted as this fine example.

STONES
None
Rock Crystal

MEASUREMENTS
Crystal intaglio is 1.5cm diameter
6.5cm in length

WEIGHT
3.90 Grams

MARKS
None
Pin and Head both Tested as 16ct gold,
Would have been marketed originally in circa 1875 as 15ct but simply tests a touch higher in gold content.

CONDITION
Very good to excellent antique condition.  Finely executed image. 

Please visit this wonderful site Lang Antiques University for a concise and very interesting evaluation of Essex crystal