Outstanding Victorian Pink Topaz Intaglio and Diamond Pendant/Brooch with Convertible Top

An intaglio of the goddess Nike, her crown outstretched, is rare enough. Nike carved in intaglio into a pink topaz, set within an outstanding heart-shaped brooch/pendant and surrounded by diamonds? Now that is all the more exquisite. A rare English jewel from the 1870s, which seems to be in direct conversation with the rococo revival found in French jewelry from the previous decade. Artfully rendered and generous in its materials, its versatility is sublime: the pendant fitting attaches or detaches easily, allowing the jewel to be worn in multiple ways. Infectious wherever it took hold, the nineteenth-century vogue for Rococo Revival is clear to see in this pendant. Although Empress Eugénie was ousted around the time of its creation, her obsession with eighteenth-century French fashion lingered, particularly in England, where such fluency in royalist aesthetics did not carry the political divisiveness it would have engendered in France at the time. Details Era: Victorian, circa 1870–1880 Origin: England Materials: 18-carat gold and sterling silver Topaz: pink topaz, including an intaglio depicting the goddess Nike; stated total weight approximately 21.57 carats Diamonds: 135 diamonds, predominantly old European cuts, estimated total weight approximately 2.45 carats Combined stated gemstone weight: approximately 24.02 carats Measurements: 78 × 33 mm Gross weight: 23.40 g Construction: heart-shaped convertible brooch/pendant with detachable pendant fitting Condition: outstanding Hallmarks / stamps: none Shipping & Services Ships fully insured, signature required via UPS from our NYC office. Full historical certification and appraisal services available upon request with documentation and photographs. A guarantee of authenticity and insurance paperwork are available upon request for all curated items. The Curio NYC | Fine Historical Jewels | NYC + Paris.