Antique 14kt Yellow Gold Essex Crystal Hunting Necklace, c. 1880–1910

A beautifully composed late Victorian to Edwardian necklace in 14kt yellow gold, featuring intricately carved and reverse-painted Essex crystals — a rare and labour-intensive technique where miniature paintings are rendered in fine detail on the reverse side of domed rock crystal cabochons.

The central scene depicts a red-coated English huntsman on horseback leaping over a hedge, flanked by two companion medallions portraying a fox and a hound. These traditional hunting motifs speak to the British sporting elite’s fascination with the countryside chase — fox hunting was considered a symbol of both aristocratic leisure and rural valor. The inclusion of hunting horns and riding crops in gold adds further narrative depth, evoking the ceremonial and rhythmic elements of the hunt.

Gold scrolls in the form of fox horns echo the sounding of the horn at the beginning and end of a hunt, while the crossed riding crops recall discipline and elegance in horsemanship. This piece is not only a nod to equestrian culture but a wearable record of the Victorian and Edwardian obsession with sporting life, storytelling through wearable art.

Specifications:

• Metal: 14kt yellow gold

• Period: Late Victorian to Edwardian, c. 1880–1910

• Technique: Reverse-painted Essex crystal miniatures

• Motifs: Huntsman, fox, hound, gold horn terminals, riding crops

• Length: 41.6 cm

• Pendant (central medallion): 2.3 x 2.3 cm

• Total Weight: 32.89 grams

Condition:
Pre-owned, with light signs of wear consistent with age. No losses to crystal domes or painted scenes. Well-preserved and structurally sound.

ITEM LOCATION : United Kingdom
SHIPPING FEE: Complimentary Express & Insured Shipping
INCLUDED: Complimentary Gift Wrap Packaging & Certificate of Evaluation.
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