Antique Cross - Silver - 1750-1800

Antique silver Flemish Cross (Croix Flamande) with about 1.20–1.40 ct rose diamonds – ca. 1800 Highlights & Specifications Type of jewelry: Antique cross / brooch (Croix Flamande) Period: Georgian / Directoire – ca. 1780–1820 Material: Silver Weight: 11.0 grams Dimensions: ca. 55 × 28 mm Stones: Natural, hand-cut rose diamonds (tested by thermal conductivity) Estimated diamond weight: ca. 1.20 to 1.40 carats Central diamond: ca. 6.0 × 4.5 mm 4 arm stones: ca. 3.0 to 4.0 mm each Diverse small rose accents (fleurons and bow) Setting: Closed back with underlying silver foil (foil-backed) Clasp: pin conversion with cap/slide safety at the rear Condition: Authentic historical condition; 3 stones missing (see condition report & dimensions sketch) Extensive Description Exceptionally rich and monumental 18th-/early 19th-century Flemish cross (Croix Flamande), crafted in silver and set with a substantial carat weight of antique rose-cut diamonds. Where many regional jewelry from this period is set with thin diamond splinters or rhinestones, this piece stands out for the generous size of the stones: the center contains a sizable rose-cut diamond of about 6.0 × 4.5 mm, flanked by four heavy roses on the arms of the cross. All diamonds are authentic, hand-cut Dutch rose diamonds. The stones are traditionally set in closed silver caskets with underlying foil (foil-backed). The natural, centuries-old oxidation of the foil and the inclusions in the stones give the piece the unmistakable, mysterious silver sheen sought in early historic jewelry. Construction & Wearability: The piece has the classic regional three-part construction: a richly floral main cross with fleurons, an intermediate element in the form of a stylized bow, and a globe-shaped end piece. The original components are hinged. On the back, a solid silver pin mount has been added in the past with a protective end cap. This makes the historical museum piece immediately functional and stably wearable as a brooch on a mantle, jacket, or lapel. Condition Report (Fully Transparent): The piece is in a beautiful, untouched antique condition with original silver patina. It has not been chemically polished, preserving the delicate foils. As carefully documented in the attached technical sketch, there are a total of three stones missing: - Lower end: The hollow tube at the bottom is empty (suitable replacement size: antique rose of about 3.0–3.5 mm). - Fleuron on the main cross: The accent stone lower-left between the cross arms is missing (ca. 1–2 mm). - Bow: The accent stone lower-left in the intermediate bow is missing (ca. 1 mm). All other stones and settings are present and intact. The brooch can be worn with pride in this authentic state, or forms an exceptionally rewarding restoration project for a goldsmith/antique dealer.

Estimate:£135.37

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