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Rare 1910 Halley's Comet Pearl & Gold Stickpin Signed
browse these categories for related items... All Items: Estate Jewelry: Gold: Victorian: Pre 1910: item # 156543 GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear 56 Calle Monte Aplanado, NW Albuquerque, NM 87120 Phone: 505.205.1404 Guest Book $159 Free U.S. Priority Shipping (& Gift Wrap if Desired) |
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Comet jewels are scarce and highly collectible, and this antique comet stickpin is a particularly elegant example. One of the finest stickpins we've ever offered, it's every inch 14k gold (hallmarked) and the beautiful head is set with a central half pearl of good size plus six more lustrous seed pearls. These would be genuine sea pearls and probably natural, since the process of culturing pearls had barely begun then. To the modern eye, the head suggests a flower with a stem, but pieces like this were in fact intended to represent comets (the "stem" portion being the comet's tail, while the "petals" form a star). It was an approach typical since Georgian times, and indeed the pin could conceivably have commemorated a much earlier comet -- even Halley's passage in 1835, rather than 1910. The look wouldn't have differed. I'm opting for the later date, mainly because of the 14k gold stamp, maker mark and excellence of construction associated with Edwardian times. Here the goldsmith managed to attach the stock with no visible solder marks; it actually appears to be all of one piece! The maker's stamp, resembling a cross or bird within an oval cartouche, is unknown to me, so please tell me if you can identify it. In superb condition, showing no damage to either gold or pearls, the pin measures about 1 13/16 inches long and 5/16 of an inch at its widest. Provenance is a Boston area estate. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking! |
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