Early Georgian French Silver & Black Spot Paste Stomacher Pendant Necklace

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Georgian

 

Say hello to Juliana's great-great-great-great grandmother! Diamond cutting in the 17th and early 18th centuries was very primitive and because the bottoms of the stones were flat, not pointed as they are today, they created a tiny black spot in the middle of the stone. So when paste was first invented, the black spot would be painted on to accurately emulate the diamonds of the age, and that's what you see here when you look at the center of the large stones of this amazing ca. 1760 cruciform stomacher, so called because ladies wore them at waist level on long chains. The spider-webby hand-wrought silver filigree is particularly awe-inspiring, as is the fact that not a single stone has been lost over the intervening 250 years ~ don't you wish they set them that well now? As you can see on the back view, you can even squish the settings and the stones still stay put! It's a large piece, measuring 3-1/2" from the top of the bail to the end of the articulated piece that dangles from the bottom, and 3" from side to side. It's in amazingly good condition for its age. No markings. What a rare and special piece!

Item ID: STOMACHER

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