Description
Date: 1770 – 1800s, Georgian period
Materials: clear quartz (likely Bristol diamond), ruby, silver-topped 9k rose gold, paste (one replacement for quartz, and one replacement for a ruby eye)
Weight: 9.5 grams
Width: 30.8 mm
Length: 32.4 mm
Depth: 5 mm (not including pin), 9.7 mm (including pin)
Diameter of quartz stones: 6 mm (biggest), 5 mm (most of the ones on the body), 1 mm (smallest)
Diameter of ruby eyes: 2 mm
Condition: overall in good, wearable antique condition. The gold body is sturdy and without damage, and no stones are missing. Under 60x loupe magnification, all the stones appear to be without damage, with facet edges still sharp and pristine. The circular stone set immediately next to the serpent head tests as paste rather than quartz; it is most likely a replacement. The foiling behind three stones have tarnished, leading to a “clouded” appearance. The left ruby eye tests as paste; it is a replacement, though the replacement work is expertly done and not noticeable. There are light age-related surface scratches to the back of the brooch.