A good quality carved intaglio rock crystal of a grouse set on to a 15ct gold pin. The precise physical process of the reverse carved intaglio crystal is a long and tedious one. Rock crystal mined in Brazil and Madagascar was cut with diamond saws and then ground to the perfect cabochon. This procedure could take as many as twenty different grades of polish, and the entire process was done by hand. Once the stone was shaped, the design was drawn on the reverse side of the crystal with water color. The image was then etched into the piece of stone with a scribe pencil. The engraving began with handmade soft steel tools. The crystal was carved with a paste made from a combination of oil and diamond dust. When the image had been completed to the artist’s satisfaction, he began painting the crystal. Just as in the carving phase, the painting was done in reverse. Highly collectable these pieces are a little work of art in themselves.