Archeological-Revival Micromosaic Gold Pendant Necklace
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An archeological-revival gold and micromosaic pendant necklace circa 1870, the circular pendant centrally-set with a fine polychrome micromosaic depicting a scarab within an engraved acanthus leaf surround, further framed by gold wirework and granulation, suspending a beaded fringe, mounted in 14ct gold, with glazed compartment to the reverse, to an 18ct gold textured cable link necklace, pendant diameter approximately 29 mm, necklace length approximately 415 mm.
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- Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Acanthus - A stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, derived from the genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Mediterranean area. It is a common element in classical Greek and Roman design, and is often seen in Corinthian and Composite order columns and used as a decorative element in English, European and Australian furniture, particularly on the curve of a leg, and as decoration for a corbel.
- Polychrome - Made or finished in many colours. For furniture, it is used to indicated a painted finish.
- Scarab Beetle - xx
- Granulation - Granulation is a jewellery-making technique that involves the application of small grains or balls of metal (typically gold or silver) onto a surface to create intricate and decorative designs. In the process of granulation, the metal granules are carefully melted and then dropped or placed onto the surface using a fine-tipped tool. Once they have been positioned, they are then soldered in place using a torch or other heat source. The result is a piece of jewellery that features intricate patterns and designs created entirely out of small, shining metal granules.
The technique dates back thousands of years and has been used by artisans across various cultures to create beautiful and unique pieces of jewellery. Granulation is a time-consuming and skilled process that requires patience, precision, and a steady hand. It is considered a lost art in some parts of the world and is highly prized by jewellery collectors and artisans.
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