Mid-twentieth century work - Lot 73

Mid-twentieth century work Rectangular money clip in 585‰ yellow gold wire with stylized scroll decoration centered on an Essex crystal cabochon representing a horse's head on a mother-of-pearl background. Numbered "7899". Dimensions: 4.1x3.4cm. P. Gross weight: 7.4g. (Slight oxidation). The "Cristal d'Essex" or "Essex Crystal" technique takes its name from William Essex - painter-miniaturist to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert - but it was his pupil, William Bishop Ford, who popularized the technique from the beginning of the second half of the 19th century. Used until the mid-twentieth century, this technique consists of applying polychrome pigments to the reverse of rock crystal or glass cabochons, which have been engraved in intaglio to varying depths, often with animal or floral motifs. The virtuosity of these pieces lies in the complexity of the painting - in miniature - of motifs redoubling in finesse, starting with the details and ending with the backgrounds, all on a recessed surface. The piece presented here perfectly illustrates the three-dimensional rendering made possible by this technique, as well as its characteristic "magnifying glass" effect.