15ct Gold Opal and Pearl Brooch
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Paste / Rhinestone / Diamante - Paste (or rhinestone or diamante) is the name given to a coloured glass composition used for imitation gemstones, or to imitation gemstones made of glass.
Although the technique of glassmaking had been known for thousands of years, but it wasn't until a lead glass with similar optical properties to diamonds were invented by a German jeweller working in Paris (either "Stras" or 'Strasser") in the early 18th century that "paste" gemstones became popular.
There was no social stigma attached to wearing imitation stones, and they were worn in situations where highway robbery was a possibility. The 18th century settings were of very high quality, equivilent to real gemstone jewellery.
In the nineteeth century the quality of paste jewellery declined and it has remained the poor cousin to genuine gemstones ever since.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
The Edwardian hard stone relief with ivory frame. An ivory frame picture
A cultured pearl necklace and two pairs of earrings The graduated necklace hung with a gold turquoise and pearl clasp, to be sold with a pair of gold and turquoise pendant earrings and another pair of 18ct gold square tortoiseshell earrings.
A collection of small boxes, various materials including papier mache, hardstone, porcelain and mother of pearl
A Chinese blue and white landscape bowl, Chenghua mark but Tongzhi, late Ming dynasty, a blue and white fir and branch dish, Tongzhi period Ming dynasty, and another late Ming dynasty circular dish 17 cm diameter, 14 and 16 cm