Australian 9ct Gold Bar Brooch with Red 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 9ct yellow gold shield and bar brooch one round blue paste gemstone, made by T. Willis & Co, Melbourne
18ct gold, platinum and diamond 'Love and Kisses' ring, Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co., designed a continuous line of open work X's and O's, centring an x pave-set with brilliant-cut diamonds, size N, signed Paloma Picasso, Tiffany & Co.
An Edwardian 9ct gold brooch; set with doublets and rose cut diamonds. Chester 1910
An Australian 9ct yellow gold Fleur de Lys brooch one round synthetic sapphire with ten seed pearls, made by Taylor and Sharp, Hobart