A charming and finely made French stickpin in 18ct gold, c.1880, formed as a pear with a luminous cabochon emerald at its heart, surrounded by intricately textured gold leaves and stalk. The pear was a popular motif in the naturalistic jewellery of the Belle Époque — a period that celebrated the forms of the natural world with exceptional goldsmithing skill — and carried associations with femininity and natural abundance. The cabochon emerald, with its smooth, domed surface, gives the piece a rich depth of colour that a faceted stone could not achieve at this scale. Hallmarked with French assay marks for 18ct gold and a maker's mark. Head 1.9 × 0.8cm; pin length 6.8cm.

The Details

• Circa: 1880
• Head dimensions: 1.9 × 0.8cm
• Pin length: 6.8cm
• Hallmarks: French assay marks for 18ct gold; maker's mark
• Origin: France