Winged Lion and Emerald Stickpin Winged Lion and Emerald |
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A fierce winged lion jealously guards a verdant
emerald cabochon and small, sparkling diamond. The
serpent-like body of the chimera curls around the emerald and
terminates in a tail of scrolling acanthus leaves. The
late Victorians loved small jewels featuring fantastic creatures
and mythological beasts. This finely sculpted stickpin is
a wonderful example created in 14kt gold around 1900.
Although this stickpin is not signed, I have attributed it to Whiteside & Blank based on similar stickpins created by the firm. Another jewelry maker, Alling & Co., made similar winged-lion stickpins in the early 1900s, but of a smaller size and less finely detailed. The back of the stickpin (see below) is as finely crafted as the front. The pin stem is secured to the solid back of the winged lion with a sturdy collet. "14K" is stamped to the upper right of the reverse for the purity of the gold. Cost: $765 Whiteside & Blank was a maker of finely detailed, beautifully crafted cufflinks, stickpins and other jewels jewels during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Richly sculpted, fantastic creatures were a specialty of the firm. |
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Here are a few more elegant jewels from the
past ...
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| Antique Jewelry Galleries Antique Stickpin Gallery If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, I can be reached at arthur@jewelryexpert.com or 978 412-6633.
Or, if you prefer snail mail, my postal address is: |
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