Essex Jewelry and Antiques
14K Gold Seed Pearl Ruby Painted Portrait Horseshoe Equestrian Brooch
Regular price
$640.80
Presented is an interesting 14K gold in three tones, seed pearl, ruby brooch with a painted portrait. The brooch has a horse or equestrian motif. A large horseshoe is over a nail, used to put in the horseshoes and perhaps a pitchfork and crop, although I'm not sure what the other item is. A round gold disc within enameled portrait of a young lady is in the center of the horseshoe. The portrait is enameled on the surface of the medallion, and is an exquisite portrait of a blond woman with pink flowers in her hair. Four cabochon rubies are bead-set opposite nine seed pearls prong-set in the horseshoe, and two more seed pearls decorate the flowers. The rubies are approximately 1.5 millimeters in diameter each. The horseshoe and medallion are done in wonderful yellow and rose gold. Green-toned gold make up the leaves of the flowers. The green is not very evident in the photos, but when in person, they definitely have a green color.
The brooch itself is unmarked. We have tested the brooch with nitric acid and guarantee it to be 14K gold. The pin-shaft appears to be a replacement and is stamped 14K. This piece was probably made in the United States, certainly in the 1860s through the 1880s. At least 125 years old.
The brooch is in good condition. The portrait and gems are in great shape. There is a slight dent to one of the tuning forks, as can be seen in the first and third photos, but this is small and not very noticeable. There is a very tiny split in the side of the brooch, as can be seen in the last photo, and again, not very noticeable, because of its location. There are no repairs.
The brooch is 2 inches long and 1 ¼ inches wide.
The brooch weighs 7.8 grams.