Equestrian Elegance: An Antique French Coral Horse Head Tiepin

An exquisite piece from the turn of the century, this French tiepin showcases a whimsical horse head sculpted in coral, poised elegantly on a black enameled yoke. Bridging the gap between the ornate sensibilities of the Late-Victorian period and the refined elegance of the Belle Époque, it reflects a time when equestrian sports were a significant source of inspiration.

Antique jewelry object group
Equestrian Elegance: An Antique French Coral Horse Head Tiepin

Condition
in very good condition, though there are slight imperfections on the surface of the black enamel.
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
France

Style
something between the Late-Victorian and Belle Epoque style - 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.
And the Belle Époque style (Belle Époque is French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the time of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, the "Belle Époque" was named in retrospect, when it began to be considered a "golden age" the major powers of Europe, new technologies improved lives and the commercial arts adapted Renaissance and eighteenth-century styles to modern forms. In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, this epoch overlaps the end of what is called the Victorian Era there and the period named the Edwardian Era.
See also: late-Victorian
more info on styles

Style specifics
The Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837-1901) into 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 Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period.

Jewelry of this period is changing back from heavy to more smaller, romantic pieces with often whimsical motifs. Jewelers using diamonds and bright gemstones in elaborated and fine feminine pieces.

Period
ca. 1900
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
equestrian sports

Theme
Horses - The horse is a universal symbol of freedom without restraint, because riding a horse made people feel they could free themselves from their own bindings.

Material 18K
yellow gold (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Technique
Enamelling is an old and widely-adopted technology. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to pottery and stone objects. The ancient Greeks, Celts, Russians, and Chinese also used enameling processes on metal objects. Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic. According to some sources, the word enamel comes from the High German word smelzan (to smelt) via the Old French esmail. Used as a noun, "an enamel" is a usually small decorative object, coated with enamel coating, such as a champlevé or a cloisonné (different techniques).

Precious stones
One coral horse head

Hallmarks
The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
top 0,88 cm (0,35 inch) x 1,48 cm (0,58 inch), total length 7,53 cm (2,96 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
2,90 gram (1,86 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
24057-0275

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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