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All auctions / Jewelry & Gems / Antique Silver on Gold Star Brooch with Four Carats of Diamonds, c. 1900


One of the most popular jewelry motifs of the 19th century was the diamond-studded star - and not without reason. On the one hand, these pieces of jewelry illustrate the enthusiasm for the Orient in those years with a preference for foreign cultures. On the other hand, the enthusiasm for star motifs was due to the Empress of Austria, who introduced the diamond star motif to Viennese society and made it into immortal classics of jewelry history to this day. Probably the most famous portrait of Sisi, painted by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, shows the young empress with a multitude of radiant diamond stars in her flowing dark hair, which were specially made for her by the Viennese court jeweler A.E. Köchert. After this portrait became known, there was no stopping the ladies of Viennese society. Every woman who could afford it wanted to come into possession of at least one precious star set with diamonds. This is just such a piece from the turn of the century. It is a twelve-pointed star with a beautiful old-cut diamond in the center, while the rays are set with a further 48 old-cut diamonds. The diamonds are set in silver, typical of the period. The back of the brooch is made of high-carat gold. A total of around four carats of sparkling white diamonds have been set. Their cut reveals that the star was created around 1900, when the fashion for stars was already in full swing. In fact, the star can be found in the catalog of the London Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company for the year 1899 (see here) as well as for the year 1901 (see last illustration, published in Peter Hinks (ed.): Viktorianischer Schmuck, Hildesheim/Zurich/New York 1996, p. 56.). It therefore comes from the successful British jeweler's range and was very probably made in Great Britain. The piece of jewelry can be worn as a brooch, but a concealed eyelet also allows it to be worn on a chain - the brooch can simply be unscrewed for this purpose. Today, as over 140 years ago, the diamond star brings great joy and is waiting for a wearer to let it shine again! We discovered the diamond star in London.
Estimate:$10,569.91
To the auctionView all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewelry & Gems
Estimate:
$10,569.91
RING 18K VITGULD MED 1 ODLAD PÄRLA OCH 3 BRILJANTER.
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