Early Victorian large gold filigree breast jewel, pendant with cross.

Cross with profiled arms ending in a profiled and ribbed button, the cross is connected to a highly decorated top plate by gold chain, decorated with shells motifs that evokes the pilgrimage to Saint Jacques de Compostelle and the filigree work is perhaps the mark of a distant Spanish origin. The County of Flanders became Spanish between the 15th and 17th centuries. The curly lines might also evoke twisted ropes wound on the bridge or boats and the shell as product from fishing.

Antique jewelry object group: breast jewel, pendant

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian or Dutch origin.

Style: Pre-Victorian
(more info on styles)

Period: ca. 1820
(events and facts in 1820)

Source of inspiration: Christianity

Theme: Cross - The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and is used by many religions, such as Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements (or cardinal points), or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. (from: Wikipedia)

Material: 18K yellow gold
(more info on precious metals)

Techniques: Filigree (formerly written filigrann or filigrane) is a delicate kind of jewel work made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver or stitching of the same curving motifs. It often suggests lace and French from 1660 to the late 19th century. It should not be confused with ajoure jewellery work; while both have many open areas, filigree involves threads being soldered together to form an object and ajoure involves holes being punched, drilled, or cut through an existing piece of metal. (from: Wikipedia)

In the time this jewel was made gold was very expensive and labour relatively cheap. To be able for the “not so rich” to wear gold jewelry too, jewelers used a technique to made gold jewelry very thin to obtain an optimal effect with as little as intrinsic costs as possible. As such jewels are very fragile and a lot of things could have happened to them over the ages, it is not obvious to find them in this condition.

Extra information: This type of breast jewel or pendant is typically Belgian in the late 18th till mid-19th century.

Hallmarks: No trace.
(more info on hallmarks)

Condition: very good condition
(more info on our condition scale)

Dimensions: height 13.00 cm (5.12 inch)

Weight: 6.50 gram (4.18 dwt)

Reference Nº: 09329-4317

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
pendants, Pre-Victorian pre victorian jewelry, crosses, christian jewelry, jewelry with filigree & granules, yellow gold jewelry, latest acquisitions,
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