A rare and animated Victorian stickpin in 18ct gold, set with an Essex crystal depicting two polo players in the midst of a chukka — a subject of exceptional rarity in this format. Essex crystal, in which a rock crystal cabochon is hollowed from the reverse and painted in miniature from the inside, was the pre-eminent technique for sporting stickpins of the Victorian era, prized for the luminous, three-dimensional quality it gives to even the most complex scenes. Polo subjects are among the most sought-after by collectors of sporting jewellery, and this example captures the energy and tension of the game with considerable skill — the figures and horses rendered with the kind of animated precision that only the finest miniaturists could achieve at this scale. To the reverse, the initials F.W.L. suggest this may have been a personal commission or presentation piece, adding a further layer of provenance interest. Tests as 18ct gold. Diameter 2cm; weight 7.4g.

The Details

• Circa: Victorian
• Weight: 7.4g
• Diameter: 2cm
• Hallmarks: Tests as 18ct gold; initials F.W.L. to reverse
• Technique: Essex crystal (reverse-painted rock crystal)
• Subject: Two polo players, mid-chukka