Rollason's Gold Brooch with Seed Pearls and Blue Gemstone
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
An Australian 15ct yellow gold opal and diamond shield bar brooch one oval crystal opal, four old mine cut diamonds, the brooch was by Johnson and Simonsen, Melbourne
An Australian 9ct yellow gold pearl, garnet swallow brooch two round garnets, thirteen seed pearls, the brooch was made Oliver Foster, Melbourne. As seen in Australian Jewellers by Cavill, Cocks & Grace, plate number 117
An Australian 9ct gold bar brooch one oval purple paste gemstone, made by Aronson & Co, Melbourne
An antique seed pearl and turquoise brooch, 15ct yellow gold, made as a fine quatrefoil shaped panel brooch of polished gold, inset with a four pointed leaf motif grain set with seed pearls, centred by a small round turquoise bezel set, each scallop of out