Fine Carnelian Agate Intaglio Fob, 19th C., 15K Newton

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PRICE REDUCTION! I HAVE REDUCED THE OPENING BID BY $100.00! Offered at auction is wonderful mid 19 th century carnelian intaglio spinner watch fob. This fob is made of 15K solid pink gold and is set with a beautifully hand engraved intaglio of the 18 th century scientist Sir Isaac Newton. To see a very similar intaglio of Newton in the literature see # 644 on page 308 in Martin Henig’s book CLASSICAL GEMS. This intaglio is an obvious portrait of Newton down to the comet behind his head. The features of the intaglio image are finely engraved and polished. The intaglio and setting have no damage and are a masterful example of miniature sculpture, which is what engraved gems are, and fine mid 19 th century goldsmithing. The intaglio measures approximately 19.5mm by 16.5mm and is set in a swivel fob made in an Etruscan Gothic East Lake combined style. The fob is not hallmarked, as was common with American 19 th century jewelry, but it has been acid tested and tests as 15K solid pink gold. The total weight of this fob is approximately 8.5 grams, of which I would estimate 6+ grams is gold weight. This is an impressive gold and carnelian intaglio watch fob in a fine state of preservation and should be of interest to any collector of intaglios or to any man (or woman) who has a pink gold watch and chain and needs an exceptional fob to complement the set. Admirers of Newton might also find it interesting. This is truly a fine intaglio fob, I considered taking the intaglio out of it and reset it as a ring but to do so would be to dishonor the goldsmith who made this fob probably 150 years ago. It was to fine to break up. A NOTE ON THE NATURE, RARITY AND VALUE OF HARDSTONE CAMEOS: As a jeweler and gem engraver I have become disappointed in how little appreciation there is among the contemporary jewelry buying public for hand engraved hardstone intaglios and cameos. This lack of appreciation is a result of ignorance, misunderstanding and (dare I say it) a cattle like mentality that causes the population to desire what they are told to desire and what others have, Bling Bling, instead of artistry. Cameos and intaglios, like sculpture, are to be judged by the esthetic finesse with which they are rendered. Fine intaglios and cameos are works of art and should not be valued by the weight of the gold in which they are mounted. Cameos and intaglios in the past, when they were appreciated and understood, were valued at may times their weight in gold on their own. Each cameo or intaglio takes many hours to engrave; the finer the cameo or intaglio the more work needed to make it. They are not, like modern faceted stones and ultasonicly made cameos, mass produced like nuts and bolts by banks of machines, each hand engraved cameo is a miniature sculpture produced by an artist. So, in considering this and other cameos or intaglios, educate yourself and see them for what they are, an underappreciated art form as well as a jewel, something rare, unique, made by hand Questions? I will try to answer. INTERNTIONAL BUYERS MUST PAY FOR REGISTERED MAILING OF THIS ITEM, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! EBAY HAS MADE INTERNATIONAL MAILING GROTESQUELY COMPLICATED SO INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS MUST CONTACT ME BEFORE PAYING FOR THIS ITEM, IF THEY WIN IT, SO MAILING COSTS CAN BE CALCULATED AND INVOICED CORRECTLY UP OR HOPEFULLY DOWN!!!!!!!! See Pictures: read more

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