Early 19th Century Black Dot Paste Brooch with French Silver Marks and Gold Detailing
A lovely Early 19th Century brooch of exquisite design, featuring a silver-set paste flower head, held either side by gold leaves, which in turn are topped by paste-set silver sections, all suspended from a silver and gold brooch part, with the gold representing swagged leaves and the silver areas being set with paste and representing a four-part ribbon. (Please see pics, this is not easy to describe!) The floral motifs are continued by the addition of two small gold flower heads, one set just below the silver pendant loop and the other set just above the silver and paste daisy head cluster. The quality of the paste used in those days, with it's high metallic content, has never been bettered and they glitter and flash just like genuine gemstones. The contrasts between the silver areas and the gold highlights is also a fabulous design feature, each one both highlighting and differentiating in equal measure. The back of the piece is everything one would hope for and expect of a piece of early 19th Century jewellery, with the cast silver having a rounded, heavy quality, with gorgeous toning accrued over many years and the back of the flower cluster having a ridged, striated pattern. A fantastic old jewel, this piece has class and quality running through it and with the extra oomph of the dangling, sparkling floral cluster fascinator, it cannot fail to be noticed.
In good antique condition with some wear to the pastes. Silver is stamped with French silver marks (see pics). Pin, hinges and closure all working fine.
Weight 13.4g
45mm x 40mm
Price includes free signed-for postage
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