Antique Clip with Romantic Miniature Painting in Gold & Pearls, c. 1870

At the Altar of Love

Antique Clip with Romantic Miniature Painting in Gold & Pearls, c. 1870

€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Cupid, the winged messenger of love, takes a rest on an idyllic coastline. He has set aside his bow and arrows, and in the shade of a tree, the naked boy plays with two white lovebirds. The two birds are connected by a delicate ribbon. To the left of the scene stands an altar with a fire burning on it: it is the altar of love, where the flame of passion blazes. Innocent love, fidelity, and burning passion are thus united in a single scene. The bucolic, Italian-inspired seascape with a sunset in the background enhances the scene’s romantic effect. An anchored sailing ship, the calm sea, and the subtly suggested landscape create a paradisiacal, peaceful setting. The miniature feels like a small window into a timeless world. The scene is rendered in the finest enamel miniature painting. This technique produces a slightly translucent, iridescent color effect that is particularly striking in the water and the sky. Here, the image seems to glow from within, further enhancing the scene’s enchanting atmosphere. The painting is framed in gold and a wreath of shimmering natural pearls. In antiquity, pearls were considered attributes of the goddess of love, so they were deliberately chosen here to reflect the theme. At the same time, the velvety luster of these treasures of the sea complements the painting’s play of light. A clip is attached to the back of the piece of jewellery that can be opened. This allows the painting to be worn as a brooch, for example, on a velvet ribbon or a scarf. The painting is inspired by Rococo motifs; the landscape also recalls paintings such as Watteau’s Embarkation for Cythera. Scenes of this kind regained popularity in the late 19th century as part of the revival of Rococo fashion beginning in 1860. The bold design of the gold frame and the way the pearls are set are also typical of the late 19th century. We therefore believe that the clip was created in the second half of the 19th century. The clip came to us from Munich.

Size & Details

At the Altar of Love

€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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At the Altar of Love

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