EDWARDIAN PLATINUM, DIAMOND AND PEARL REVERSED CARVED EQUESTRIAN BROOCH c.1910

Edwardian Platinum Diamond and Pearl Reverse Carved Rock Crystal Equestrian Brooch

Essex crystal jewelry utilizes reverse glyptography — the art of gemstone carving — to create the illusion of a three-dimensional picture inside a domed precious stone. First finding popularity in the Victorian era (and mistakenly named after renowned miniature artist William Essex), this visually marvelous style of jewelry is crafted through the delicate etching and painting of an image into the flat back of a cabochon, making it look like it is floating inside the crystal. The most frequent subjects of these pieces were wildlife, flowers, and all things nautical.  

This immaculately preserved antique brooch from the late Edwardian period features a crystal bearing the portrait of a pair of horses laid into a platinum back, with diamonds and pearls dotting the perimeter of the piece; a must-have adornment for the equine lover.