Art Nouveau Edwardian Silver Emerald Paste Pendant

A pretty antique silver pendant set with a beautiful emerald paste stone and twinkling clear pastes in a lovely sinuous Belle Epoque design. The white stones are foiled and set in traditional enclosed backs for extra sparkle.

The French jeweller Georges Frédéric Strass invented “Paste" in 1724. True paste is crafted from a special leaded glass that was painstakingly cut and then polished by hand with metal powder until it appeared to shimmer like a diamond. It was an instant success with the chic upper classes of Parisian society and continues to be highly sought after today. Nowadays paste is often used as a generic term to describe costume gemstones.

SIZE: Approximately 3.2cm wide x 4.8cm tall, including the bail.

WEIGHT: 7.0g.

MATERIALS: 935 silver, paste gemstones.

HALLMARKS/STAMPS: Stamped 935 - a silver fineness higher than sterling silver (925). We most often see 935 on early 20th-century pieces from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

CONDITION: The piece is in good antique condition, with just slight yellowing of some of the small pastes. There would originally have been some kind of drop or dangle hanging from the bottom, which is no longer there, but the pendant can be worn as it is or you could easily add your own drop (a pearl would look fab!)

ERA: Estimated "La Belle Epoque" - late Victorian to Edwardian, c.1871-1914.

Antique and vintage boxes photographed are for display only and are not included unless stated in the description. 

Please be sure to examine all the photos carefully as they form part of the description, and do feel free to ask if you have any questions, we’re always happy to help where we can!

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