A Cross to Bear: 18th Century Diamond Elegance

This Rococo era pendant, a reverent cross from around 1750, is steeped in the ornate opulence of its time. Silver-topped and 18K red gold-backed, it is adorned with ten table-cut rose diamonds, their brilliance accentuated by the traditional foil setting technique. While showing signs of its venerable age with traces of past repairs, the pendant remains a dignified tribute to its Christian inspiration, its faded hallmarks hinting at a storied past.

Antique jewelry object group
pendant

Condition
acceptable condition, traces of old repairs at the back
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
unknown

Style
Rococo - Rococo (less commonly roccoco) also referred to as "Late Baroque" is an 18th century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly more ornate, florid, and playful. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style. In 1835 the Dictionary of the French Academy stated that the word Rococo "usually covers the kind of ornament, style and design associated with Louis XV's reign and the beginning of that of Louis XVI". It includes therefore, all types of art produced around the middle of the 18th century in France.
See also: Rococo
more info on styles

Style specifics
Rococo is a style of decoration that followed, c.1730, the baroque style in France (where it was also called rocaille), the principal features of which are asymmetry of ornament and a repertoire consisting to a considerable extent of rockwork, shells, flowers, foliage, and scrollwork. It was developed in France under Louis XV, 1715-74, and spread to Italy, Germany, and Austria and to a lesser extent to England.

Period
ca. 1750
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Christianity

Theme
Cross - The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and is used by many religions, such as Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements (or cardinal points), or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. (from: Wikipedia)

Material
Silver on top and backed with 18K red gold (see explanation on silver on gold). (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Technique
The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality.

Diamonds
Ten table cut rose cut diamonds . We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.
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
Illegible remains.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
height 4,78 cm (1,88 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
4,20 gram (2,70 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
22074-0044

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

Additional information
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