An Antique Pinchbeck Citrine Brooch C.1830 Stock # 2697

A most beautiful,

classic late Georgian period ,Antique Citrine, Pinchbeck Brooch,C.1830.

Please quote Stock # 2697.

A most beautiful, classic late Georgian period Antique Citrine Pinchbeck Brooch,C.1830, the setting of typical late Georgian wirework and leaf design, constructed to the highest standards.

The cushion shaped mixed cut high grade Citrine, measuring 23mm x 19mm.

The overall dimensions of the piece measuring ;- 38mm x 32mm.

(With later safety chain).

A fine example of its type, in superb and original condition.

Stock # 2697 -- overall dimensions of the piece measuring ;- 38mm x 32mm.-- Date C.1830 -- Price: £375.00

Pinchbeck.

An alloy of zinc and copper that looks remarkably like gold, similar in composition to brass. However, in Pinchbeck the zinc is used in a lesser proportion. A light gilding would have imparted a most impressive appearance to the original piece. Today many early pieces of high quality, Antique Pinchbeck still retain traces of the original gilding giving a wonderful appearance and feel to the piece.

The alloy Invented by a one Christopher Pinchbeck, a clockmaker born in Clerkenwell London though his shop was at the "sign of the Astronomical-Musical Clock" in Fleet Street ,(if you intend to come to London, these interesting historical locations are ten minutes from my shop in the "London Silver Vaults").

He was also a well-known maker of musical automata such as singing birds. He invented this metal sometime in the early 1700s, though there's no contemporary reference and we have to rely on statements by his sons.

Pinchbeck created his alloy as a way to make ornaments that looked like gold but were less expensive. There was no attempt at deception, he clearly labeled the metal for what it was. It was a respected alternative to gold: jewellers in the eighteenth century used it legitimately to make fine jewellery that could be worn in places in which theft was frequent, such as on stagecoach journeys, without fear of losing valuables. Fine Antique pieces of Pinchbeck are now most collectible, especially fine Georgian period examples, highly regarded by Jewellery collectors.