131.  Reverse crystal intaglio and gold pendant/brooch of a great blue heron. This is a wonderful reverse crystal painted intaglio brooch with a hook on the back so it can be worn as a pendant.  These are sometimes called Essex crystals or Cooke’s crystals and they were very popular in turn of the century jewelry.  Basically you take a round bead of rock crystal, then cut it in half, then carve a scene into the flat part of the half bead (in this case a heron in a marsh), then paint it and back it with mother of pearl, and then set it into jewelry.  This gives the effect of three dimensionality.   A brooch with an elaborate frame such as this is quite unusual.  Very pretty and dramatic

Back to Mens
Back to Necklace
Back to Mens Necklace
Back to Pendant