Australian Gold Flower Brooch with Red Stones and Pearls
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 garnet bar brooch one round garnet, stamped A.J.C
An Australian 9ct yellow and rose gold pearl and synthetic ruby crescent and star brooch five seed pearls with five round synthetic rubies, made by T. Willis & Co, Melbourne
Victorian 15ct gold, emerald & diamond brooch, weight approx 3.2 grams,
An Australian 9ct yellow gold pearl and gemstone flower brooch four red paste gemstones with seed pearls, made by Aronson & Co., Melbourne