Portuguese Art Deco diamond cross

Antique jewelry object group: pendant

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Portugal

Style: Art Deco - Art Deco is an eclectic artistic and design style which had its origins in Paris in the first decades of the 20th century. The style originated in the 1920s and continued to be employed until after World War II. The term "art deco" first saw wide use after an exhibition in 1966, referring to the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes that was the culmination of high-end style moderne in Paris. Led by the best designers in the decorative arts such as fashion, and interior design, Art Deco affected all areas of design throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including architecture and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as painting, the graphic arts and film. At the time, this style was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern.
  -  See also: Art Deco or more info on styles

Style specifics: Abstract motives and geometrical forms are quite typical for the Art Deco period. Art Deco moved away from the soft pastels and organic forms of its style predecessor, Art Nouveau, and embraced influences from many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, and Futurism. Its popularity peaked in Europe during the Roaring Twenties and continued strongly in the United States through the 1930s. Although many design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative.

Period: ca. 1920
  -  (events and facts in 1920)

Source of inspiration: Christianity

Theme: Cross - The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and is used by many religions, such as Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements (or cardinal points), or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. (from: Wikipedia)

Material: Silver on top and backed with 19.2K yellow gold (see explanation on silver on gold).
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Diamonds: One old European cut diamond with an estimated weight of approx. 0.13 crt. and 49 rose cut diamonds and senailles . A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.
Note: All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Total diamond weight: approx. 0.13 crt. (without the rose cut diamonds)

Precious stones: 12 carre cut sapphires (lab produced) (also called verneuil sapphire). The fact that these stones are lab produced has no influence on the value of this jewel. Natural rubies and lab produced sapphires were both used in this era, rather more for their effect than for their intrinsic value.
  -  (more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and sapphire for September.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: Portuguese hallmarks for the city Porto between 1886 and 1938 and for 19.2K gold (Porgtuguese default alloy)
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: 4,90 cm (1,93 inch) x 2,74 cm (1,08 inch)

Weight: 2,60 gram (1,67 dwt)

Reference Nº: 15003-0117

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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