The Antique Jewellery Company
Latest Finds What's Hot Expert Picks The Archive Sale Eras Collections
Contact Book Appointment
Wishlist Sign In
The Antique Jewellery Company
Free Delivery, Returns & Sizing
Book Your Appointment
The Antique Jewellery Company Experts since 1975Read Our Story
The Antique Jewellery Company

18ct Gold Rock Crystal Reverse Intaglio Coat of Arms Pendant

244L
426 Admirers
Written by Olly Gerrish

A very fine quality Victorian oval pendant set with a carved reverse intaglio rock crystal of a Coat of Arms. It has the motto “Deo et Principe” meaning “God is my principle” for the Lamb family.
A reverse crystal intaglio is a rock crystal cabochon with an intaglio carved into the flat back. The intaglio was also painted realistically with oils so, that when viewed through the top, the image appears three-dimensional. Finally, the back was sealed in order to preserve the painted areas. The technique originated in Belgium c. 1860 and is attributed to an artist named Emile Marius Pradier. This technique was also practiced in England by Thomas Cook and his descendants who made crystals for Lambeth & Co.
Production of a reverse crystal intaglio begins with the mining and cutting of fine rock crystal from Brazil or Madagascar. A well-formed cabochon is the key to a beautifully made reverse intaglio and the tedious process of hand polishing it to perfection had to be completed before the design work could begin. A watercolour of the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and diamond dust mixture was used along with up to 250 scribing tools to carve the design into the interior of the crystal “…the deeper the carving the more pronounced trompe l’oeil effect.” Once the carving was established the painting process began with extremely fine brushes and paint working in reverse to create incredibly detailed images.
The motifs most commonly found are sporting themes like horses, dogs, foxes and birds but special commissions were undertaken such as this example. This relatively secret process passed through family members, so keeping it exclusive and expectations of quality were very high.

The Details

Essentials

Item Number:
244L
Materials:
Measurements:
Height 3.6 cm
From top of loop to base 4.5 cm
Width 2.9 cm
Place of Origin:
England
Discovered:
7 years ago

Hallmarks

Unmarked, 18ct gold
Many pieces of antique jewellery were unmarked because hallmark regulations were not obligatory until 1972.

Condition

Fair
Good
Very Good
Excellent

Ring Sizing

We offer one free complimentary sizing for this ring.

Ring sizing adds 2-3 working days to the delivery estimate.

Ring Sizing Icon
Current Ring Size

View Sizing Chart
Download our Measurer
More info

Delivery

We are pleased to offer FREE DELIVERY on all purchases.

All orders are fully insured and dispatched securely by our trusted partner, DHL Express.

Estimated Arrival Delivery
UK – 19th June
USA & Europe – 23rd–25th June
Rest of World – 26th–30th June
More info, including Duties & Taxes

Returns

We are pleased to offer a 30 day, full money-back guarantee on all purchases.

UK Returns UK
FREE, with a pre-paid returns envelope

International Orders USA, Europe & Rest of World
Buyer pays for return postage and any taxes/duties applied
More info
Sustainable Luxury

The Responsible Choice

Buying antique jewellery is both ethical and eco-friendly as harmful and destructive mining processes are not needed to make an item yours. So give yourself a pat on the back!

Find Out More
Sustainable Luxury
AJC Guarantee
Our Guarantee

Our Guarantee

We always stand by our five core principles:
Quality, Rarity, Expertise, Peace of Mind and Personal Touch

Find Out More