Antique jewelry glossary

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Cross

An ornamental or devotional article of jewelry in the form of an up right joined by a horizontal arm as in a T, or traversed by an aim as in a Latin cross, and worn suspended from a chain or necklace as a pendant or as a brooch.

Such crosses have been made of various materials, e.g. gold, silver, rock crystal, jet, coral, cut steel etc. Luxurious examples have been set with, or have suspended from them, gemstones or pearls, or have been decorated with enamelling. They have been worn as a reliquary, and were popular everywhere in Europe as peasant jewelry, especially various types of provincial cross.

The cross was also used as a design for other objects e.g. a type of watchcase.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson