Griffin's Guard: A Romantic Victorian Jewel with Mythical Allure

Hailing from the Romantic Victorian Period, circa 1860, this exquisite piece reflects the era's devotion to intricate artistry. Crafted in 18k red gold and silver, the design is inspired by mythology, featuring a griffin motif, a symbol of guardianship over treasures. Adorned with approximately 110 rose cut diamonds and senailles, this jewel echoes the Victorian penchant for sentimental and symbolic motifs. Though originating from a French colony, as suggested by its unique ant hallmark, it encapsulates the global influences of the time, blending cross-cultural aesthetics with Victorian ornamental excess.

Antique jewelry object group
tiepin

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
France

Style
Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
See also: Victorian
more info on styles

Style specifics
The Romantic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) in to three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Romantic Victorian Period. This period covers the coronation of Victoria as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and her marriage to King Albert and their love, their devotion to their marriage and to their country are the sources of inspiration for this period. The jewels of this period are made of intricate carvings, special techniques where the enamel is subtly worked. These techniques allowed to give the jewel a certain opulence with less precious metal needed. As precious metals were really rare at that time. Highly favored (semi-) precious stones in this period are amethyst, coral, garnets, seed pearls and turquoises. The connotation is obviously sentimental, symbolic and romantic with reminiscent Gotic and/or Renaissance patterns and an abundant use of motifs like anchors, birds, branches, crosses, hearts and snakes.

Period
ca. 1860
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Mythology

Theme
Griffin - In tales griffins are said to build a nest, like an eagle but of gold and instead of eggs it lays agates. The animal was supposed to watch over hidden treasures. Perhaps that's why in jewellery they are often executed with a diamond or pearl in their beak.

Material
18k red gold and silver , see also: The silver on gold technique (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Diamonds
± 110 rose cut diamonds and senailles . A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.
All diamonds we offer are screened by the I.J.G.C. for whether they are natural or synthetic, and all diamonds in this jewel are 100% guaranteed to be natural.

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
more info on birthstones

Hallmarks
We are not 100% sure of the origin of this jewel, but we do know it is native of one of the French colonies because it carries a control mark representing an ant.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
griffin 1,14 cm (0,45 inch) x 1,50 cm (0,59 inch), total length 7,71 cm (3,04 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
3,00 gram (1,93 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
21316-0741

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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