An antique 9ct gold pique brooch; half round dome inlaid with…

• Pique Work - A decorative technique used on jewellery and small decorative objects in which designs are created by inlaying small gold or silver studs and stips into tortoiseshell. The art reached its highest point in 17th- and 18th-century France, particularly for the decoration of small tortoiseshell articles such as combs, patch boxes, and snuffboxes.
• Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
  
  In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
  
  Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.
• Fleur-De-Lis - The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily or iris flower with
  
  three petals that has been used as a decorative motif for thousands of years. It
  
  often appears in Christian iconography symbolising the Holy Trinity and as an
  
  emblem that reflects the purity of the Virgin Mary. In decorative art and antiques
  
  decoration, the fleur-de-lis is often used as a symbol of elegance, refinement,
  
  and good taste.
  
  
  
  
  The fleur-de-lis has a rich history and in ancient times, it
  
  was associated with royalty, purity, and the divine, and it was used as a
  
  symbol of the French monarchy for many centuries.
  
  
  
  
  It is a common design element in ceramics, silverware, jewellery,
  
  furniture, and other decorative objects, and it can be found in many different
  
  styles and forms.
  
  

This item has been included into following indexes:

• brooches, gold - gold with pearls 921
• meat covers / food covers / dish covers - pewter 1,562
• pique work inlay - jewellery 50