Vintage Show Jumping Crystal Cufflinks, Gold-Filled

The crystals are reverse-carved rather than reverse-painted, which is the older and more demanding of the two techniques: the image is cut into the stone from behind and then coloured, so it holds its depth from every angle. This is the work the trade calls Essex crystal, after William Essex, Queen Victoria's enamel painter, who never made one; the technique appeared in England around 1860 and the best of it was done for riders and hunters, which a show jumper plainly was. Gold-filled mounts, which means a real layer of gold bonded over base metal rather than a plating.

One of one. Sold as found.

No returns - as is.