Lot 130
A 17th century 'Stuart crystal' pendent brooch, circa 1680
£2,520
Auction: 11 October 2022 at 15:00 BST
Description
The oval plaque with hairwork centre on blue ground, applied with two putti holding a crown above a gilt thread cypher, beneath a faceted crystal, within a frame of split pearls and garnets in foiled closed back setting, the reverse decorated with white, pink and black enamel, suspended from a later surmount, set with a baroque split pearl and three circular-cut garnets, hook fitting
Dimensions
Footnote
The type of jewels popularly known as 'Stuart Crystal' were created as tokens of love, loyalty and commemoration from the mid-17th and until the early 18th century. Initially created to commemorate the death of King Charles I and the Stuart monarchy, panels of woven hair, monograms, crowns and initials in gold thread were set in gold or gilt beneath faceted rock crystal or paste covers to wear as rings or slides around the neck or wrist. Some of the more elaborate examples were embellished with coronets, hearts, skeletons and winged putti decorated in polychrome enamel. The enamel on the reverse is a style created by Gilles Légaré, a French jeweller and enameller of the 17th century.
