A Very Rare and Gorgeous Quality Antique Necklace with five Exquisite Carvings of Cherubs in Volcanic Lava, c. 1845.
Volcanic Lava Jewellery traditionally came from the lava of Vesuvius, which erupted in 79 A.D., destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum. This type of Jewellery became popular during the ‘Grand Tour’ days of the English Aristocracy in the 19^th century.
These playful cherubs or Cupids represent winged heavenly beings, signifying the message of love.
Each Cherub has been wonderfully and meticulously hand-Carved in high relief, with great Skill. Each is a work of Sculptural Art.
The colours of the Lava are varied with a Rare Blue-Grey one in the centre.
The first Cherub is feeding a sheep and blowing a horn; the second Cherub is playing panpipes; the centre Cherub is holding some stretched material; the fourth is playing a flute and the fifth is holding material above his head (skipping?).
Each Cherub is seated on a cairn of stones.
The detail of each carving is superb with features, hair, toes etc. clearly visible.
They are set in a raised mount with rope work edging.
The 20 inch Original Chain is a very unusual and Attractive Riviere adorned with florets.
The catch is a 22 carat Gold ‘S’ fastener, which can be looped into any of the numerous rings to wear up to and as a choker.
This Spectacular, Unique, Necklace is in Excellent Condition.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

 

A Magnificent and Very Rare Fine Quality Antique substantial High Carat Gold Cameo Bracelet with Deities in Volcanic Lava.
Each Deity is Hand-Carved with consummate skill, in the mid-Victorian period, c.1860.
This Beautiful Quality suite of portrait busts of classical deities represent the days of the week. From left to right:-  Luna (Monday); Marte (Tuesday); Mercoli (Wednesday); Jove (the ruler of them all, and the centre of the Bracelet- Thursday); Venete (Friday); Saturn (Saturday) and Diana (Sunday).
Luna or Selene – the Goddess of the Moon, pale with a half-moon over her head, and, as a cousin of Diana, carrying a quiver of arrows.
Marte or Mars – the God of War, with helmet and armour.
Mercoli or Mercury – the Messenger of the Gods, with wings in his helmet.
Jove or Jupiter – The ruler of the Gods, in control of everything.
Venete or Venus – the Goddess of Love.
Saturn – the father of Jupiter.
Diana – the Goddess of Hunting and Protector of all wild animals. Goddess of the Moon also. She carries a quiver of arrows, too.
These Gods and Goddesses are Hand-Carved out of subtly different coloured Volcanic Lava, probably from Vesuvius, with great craftsmanship, and meticulous detail.
Each Beautiful carving is signed on the back by the Artist.
They are set in sturdy high carat yellow Gold with a very attractive rope-twist edging.
The clasp is a very firm push fit with a locking latch for Extra Security when wearing.
This Spectacular Bracelet measures over 7 ¼  inches long, when closed, and is in First-Class Condition.
A Brilliant Investment.
It comes in a Beautiful, Quality Gift presentation Box, too.

A Magnificent, Unique and Beautiful Fine Quality Pendant featuring a Hand-Carved Coral Cameo, framed with Black Onyx and set with Diamonds in 18 carat Gold, on a 20 inch chain.

The Cameo was Hand-Carved by a skilled craftsman c 1820, in highly prized Coral. 
The deep and high relief carving is of a beautiful young woman with hair in ringlets. 
This is mounted in a rope-twist Gold frame on a black Onyx background.
Around this, there are four fine engraved leaf clusters in High carat Gold. 
There are sparkling rose-cut Diamonds at the centre of each leaf cluster. 
The upper has five Diamonds in a floral pattern; the other leaves feature a solitaire Diamond.

The Gold bale is also very attractively engraved, and generous, and the 18 carat Gold chain has a strong belcher link.
It is 20 inches long with a good sprung clasp.
The Pendant hangs 2 ¼ inches from the top of the bale, by nearly 1 ½ inches across.
In Excellent Condition.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

 

An Alluring and Beautiful Quality Antique Marcasite Fine Cameo Necklace in Sterling Silver, c.1900.
The Pendant Cameo is of a young woman/goddess, Hand-Carved in Exquisitely Fine detail. The hair is crisply carved with a tiara, and there are flowers on her dress. It has a Beautiful fine sheen like the Ivory keys on a piano.
It is surmounted by a pierced and elaborate Silver motif, set with sparkling rose-cut Marcasites.

(Marcasites are known as “Black Diamonds” because they look very similar to Antique rose-cut Diamonds. They are formed from Hematite – an iridescent black-grey stone found in the mountains of the English Lake District. Large crystals have so much lustre that they used to be used as mirrors!)

The ornamentation continues above this in the ‘Y’ of the Necklace, also set with Marcasites.
The chain itself is an unusual and attractive design. It is flat in section to lie comfortably around the neck, and has an Etruscan pattern of swirls.
The Original Silver ring clasp is sprung with a firm clip.
It measures 18 inches and is in Excellent Condition.
The Pendant from the top of the Silver ring measures over 1 ½ inches by 19mm.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

This is an Exquisite and Unique, Large, Quality, Antique ‘Night and Day’ Gold Cameo Pendant/Brooch, Hand-Carved in Shell.
The theme is two attractive young women, depicting Roman Goddesses. The detail of the carvings is First-Class.  There are no stress marks, chips or cracks. It is Perfect, front and back.
The woman in the foreground has hair ornamentation, carved in great detail, representing the Sun.
Next to her, the other woman is carved with superb detail also. 
Above her head is the Crescent Moon. Clouds underneath them both also suggest Female Deities.
The Cameo is set in a mid-Victorian Gold frame, cut in an attractive shape with a rope-twist edging.
It measures over 2 ½ inches by nearly 2 ¼ inches, including the frame. There is a Gold safety chain for extra security when wearing.
The pin and ‘c’ clasp are Original. A Gold jump Ring could be attached for wearing as a Pendant also.
All in Excellent Condition.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

An Elegant Pendant beautifully hand-carved in Rare Red Coral, with a 14 carat Gold Chain.
The subject is an attractive young woman, deeply carved with great skill and craftsmanship.
The detail is superb:- from the aquiline nose to the hair ornamentation with bunches of grapes.
The carving itself is 6mm deep, and is as attractive in profile as facing.

Coral has been a popular material for Jewellery since Antiquity, and was valued, not only for its colour, but also for its perceived Magical Powers. It was worn to ward off evil, and even used for medicinal purposes in the Middle Ages. Due to the effects of pollution, Coral is getting hard to find. Antique Coral is a very good Investment.
It is firmly claw-set with millepoint edging and an attractively ornate upper frame.
The chain is a fine, comfortable and strong flat link, stamped 14 carat.
With a good sprung bolt ring, it is 18 inches long. 
The Pendant hangs 40mm. from the top of the round jump ring, by 22mm.widest.
All in Excellent Condition.
This Stunning Cameo Pendant comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

This is a Distinctive and Beautifully Hand-Carved Quality Victorian Shell Cameo set in Rose Gold, and serving as either a Pendant or Brooch.
The theme is a classical young Roman or Grecian woman. 
She has been meticulously carved with great skill –the work of a Master Craftsman. Her features and hair are clearly carved with ornamentation, as are the folds of her dress and floral decoration.
The frame is Rose Gold, as is the fine rope-twist edging around it.
At the back, there is the original ‘c’ clasp and gold pin for use as a Brooch, and a hinged bale for the Chain, for use as a Pendant. (When not used as a Pendant, the hinge can be folded down, and a safety chain fitted, if required, when used as a Brooch).
The matching Chain itself is a strong and substantial belcher link, which is 20 inches long with a good sprung large bolt ring, for easy fitting.
The Cameo itself measures 2 inches by over 1 ½ inches. As a Pendant, it measures 56mm. from the top of the bale.
All in Excellent Condition. A Good Investment.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.

VICTORIAN HARDSTONE CAMEO BROOCH 
(Ref:3354)

This Beautiful hardstone cameo brooch is in first-class condition, and hand-carved with great skill. 
The white cameo is set on a Topaz coloured stone. 
The mount is hand-engraved, embellished with applied leaves and micro-fine rope edging.
It measures 45mm. x 37mm.

This unique cameo brooch is a must for a collection – or for distinctive wearing.
It comes in a Beautiful, Quality Gift presentation Box, too.

 

A Beautifully Carved Quality Antique Cameo Pendant and Brooch, set in Sterling Silver.
The Cameo is finely Hand-Carved in Shell, and features a profile of a young woman. 
The frame surrounding her is Sterling Silver, set with sparkling rose-cut Marcasites (sometimes referred to as ‘Black Diamonds’).
At the back, there is the original clasp and locking pin, for use as a brooch, and the loop for the silver chain (or safety chain).
The chain is a fine and strong Sterling Silver link 18  inches long, on a good sprung clasp.
The Cameo itself measures 30mm. by 23mm., and hangs 34 mm from the top of the loop.
All in Excellent Condition.
It comes in a Beautiful Quality, Gold-tooled Leather Gift Box, too.