A fine and unusually large Victorian stickpin in 18ct gold, c.1880, centred on a carved agate shell of considerable sculptural quality, set with a bright old-cut diamond of an estimated 0.10 carats. The carving of agate into three-dimensional forms — a technique related to the ancient art of cameo cutting — requires considerable skill, the hardness of the stone demanding patience and precision. The shell form was a popular subject in Victorian decorative arts, with its associations with the sea, classical mythology, and the Grand Tour tradition of collecting natural curiosities. At 2 × 2.1cm this is a stickpin of exceptional size and presence. Tests as 18ct gold.

The Details

• Circa: 1880
• Head dimensions: 2 × 2.1cm
• Estimated diamond weight: 0.10 carats (old-cut)
• Hallmarks: Tests as 18ct gold
• Stone: Carved agate (shell form)