Lovely antique yellow gold reverse crystal intaglio featuring a exceptionally detailed, and colorful profile of a Roman Centurion. This is an excellent and rare example of this lost art. This pin is attributed to being of French origin by its markings. The late Anna Miller is a great source of information for dating antique jewelry.
A reverse crystal intaglio, also sometimes referred to as Essex glass, is a complicated and painstaking process. Before the initial work can begin, a well formed hand polished cabochon crystal is crucial. A watercolor rendering is then applied to the underside of the cabochon crystal and then an oil and diamond dust mixture is used alongside scribing tools to create the motif. The deeper the carving, the more pronounced the trompe l'oeil effect is.
ID#: BRO157
Metal: 14k yellow gold
Material: Crystal
Weight: 6.98g
Pin Length: 3.42 inches
Head Dimensions: 0.95 inch (L) x 0.70 inch (W) x 0.27 inch (D)
Markings: 'GM', 'A',
