Nardi of Venice 18k Ruby Emerald Ebony Pearl Garnet Antique Blackamoor Fur Clip

An outstanding historic antique Blackamoor pin beautifully made and signed G. Nardi*.

This exceptional piece is meticulously crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with eleven rubies, five emeralds, four pearls and two seed pearls (in the hanging earrings).

The head is carved from ebony, his turban is set with a ruby in the front and another in the star held by the crescent at the top of the turban. Nine more rubies are bead set into the majestic garment, the five emeralds are box set at the bottom of the garment, the emeralds alternate with pearls. An oval garnet faceted on the top is set in a scalloped bezel on the back of the turban.

The pin was designed as a fur clip with two prongs one of which is missing. Despite the damage the piece can be worn as is and is being sold as such.

It is quite dimensional measuring 2.5" by 1.5" by .5", it has a total weight of 24.35 grams. The rubies in the turban are 2mm, the bead set rubies are 3mm, the emeralds are 5mm and the pearls are 5mm, the garnet is 10mm by 7mm.

Hand engraved on the back 'G. Nardi' and '750' for 18k gold purity.

A rare find and fabulous example of the creativity and workmanship of Giulio Nardi.

Please view the large photos for the best detail.

I offer layaway on all items purchased for full retail price. In general my layaway terms are 1/3 down and 1/3 in 30 days and the last 1/3 in 60 days. For items in this price range a longer layaway is available. I am flexible so if you are interested please ask me and we can work out a payment plan that suits you. Items ship when payment is complete.

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A bit of history....

*Giulio Nardi (1897 – 1976) was born in Florence but moved to Venice in the early 1920s where he opened his eponymous jewelry boutique at number 69, Piazza San Marco, familiar to us as St Mark’s Square.
Three generations of the Venetian Nardi jewelers are well-known for its Moorish heads**. Known as the "Moor of Venice" the family has historic ties to Venice though founder Giulio Nardi, an artist, craftsman, and entrepreneur who was Florentine by birth but undeniably Venetian at heart. Unquestionably his most famous design is that of the Moretto, the Venetian icon made famous by Shakespeare’s Moor of Venice – Othello. These brooches took the form of a Moor’s head carved in ebony or onyx wearing an elaborate jeweled turban gem-set throughout with an array of colored stones in a wide variety of different styles. In a city that traces its goldsmithing and jewelry making traditions back to the 11th century, Giulio’s love for design and jewelry craftsmanship guided him in making jewelry pieces of outstanding beauty. From its very inception, Nardi’s jewelry pieces have been steeped in the cultural identity of Venice and have been crafted at a workshop located adjacent to their Piazza San Marco jewelry shop.

There are only a handful of jewelry brands whose essential identity and aesthetic DNA is as closely linked to a city as that of Nardi Jewelry and Venice. Located in the heart of the city, Nardi Jewelry occupies five arches at a corner of the Venice’s most important landmark, the historic St. Mark’s Square. This location has not changed since 1926 when this Venetian jewelry Maison was first established by Giulio Nardi, an artist, craftsman, and entrepreneur.

In a city that traces its goldsmithing and jewelry making traditions back to the 11th century, Giulio’s love for design and jewelry craftsmanship guided him in making jewelry pieces of outstanding beauty. From its very inception, Nardi’s Jewelry pieces have been steeped in the cultural identity of Venice and have been crafted at a workshop located adjacent to their Piazza San Marco jewelry shop.
Over the past century, the brand has remained a family-run jewelry business, and today Giulio’s grandson Alberto Nardi sits at its helm.


**Nardi Venezia, the coffee table book by Nicholas Foulkes covers three generations of this Venetian jeweler’s family history and also some of the city’s rich history. Leafing through this book is enchanting; to be able to look thought the beautiful images of Nardi jewels and the art and architecture of Venice.