Antique Gold Pendant Brooch with an Amethyst Intaglio of Terpsichore, c. 1880

This magnificent piece of jewellery from the USA takes us back to the 1880s, when the high society of America's metropolises shone at balls and soirées and sparkling jewellery was an indispensable part of evening wear. It was the era that is now known as the "Gilded Age" - a time of glamor that is impressively brought to life in the series of the same name. There, as here, diamonds reflect the sparkling backdrops of a society that flaunted wealth and sophistication, but also, as can be seen impressively in this piece of jewellery, classical education with visible pleasure. The brooch, which can also be worn as a pendant thanks to a hinged eyelet, is a detailed goldsmith's work. The centerpiece is an engraved amethyst with an intaglio of the muse Terpsichore. Dressed in antique garb, she is depicted seated next to a lyre. Terpsichore is the muse of dance and one of the nine artistic daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who once populated the heaven of the gods in ancient Greece. The wonderful gold setting also reflects the spirit of antiquity, as it belongs to the so-called "archaeological style" and refers to the goldsmith's work of antiquity. A symmetrical frame unfolds around the simple prong setting of the cameo, which is alternately set with bright emeralds and rose cut diamonds. Small heart shapes with beads and finely wound cord ribbons are reminiscent of Etruscan granulation work. The pendant brooch came to us here in Berlin, together with the beautiful gold chain that is part of the offer.

Estimate:£3,368.54

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