Wee Georgian Giardinetti Brooch in Silver & Black Dot Paste

An adorable Georgian  giardinetti or "little garden" brooch with black dot old mine cut pastes. The wee sterling silver brooch depicts a sprig of flowers held in a cornucopia. The clear paste gems are chunky, with black dots painted to resemble the shaved culets seen in old mine cut diamonds. Adorable, and a wonderful addition to your antique jewelry collection. Circa 1800. 

Paste gems are leaded glass gems formed in molds and then polished to resemble diamonds or gemstones. With better quality pastes facets could even be cut and polished like natural gems. Black dot paste is one hallmark of very fine quality paste, it is paste which has a black dot "painted" on the underside of the stone. It is thought to have mimicked the open culet of early diamond cuts, which often look black.

Details..... The brooch measures 0.90" by 1". In Very Good Antique Condition. You should always expect some wear on vintage and antique jewels, we consider it part of the charm.

Item #PB142