Purveyors of rare and unusual items of early jewellery in London since 1984 and on the web since 2003. Michele Rowan is the author of '19th Century Cameos'. We specialise in sourcing rare pieces such as Georgian eye miniatures and early memento mori jewels.
Fine Jewellery
A fine quality and substantial high carat gold memento mori skull ring, dated 1723. The exterior of the hoop is engraved with a skull device [depicted by eye sockets, naval cavity and teeth] amidst...
Fine Jewellery
A most unusual Stuart crystal memento mori slide, second half of the 17th century. The gold slide encloses a compartment containing a weave of hair overlaid by a gold device of two cherubs bearing...
Fine Jewellery
A rather fabulous high carat, two colour gold acrostic memorial locket with a rare motto, circa 1815, commemorating both peace and loss. Georgian acrostic jewellery utilised gems to convey messages...
Fine Jewellery
In my ‘job’ I am fortunate to handle many beautiful and precious objects from the past. However the piece which always resonates with me most is one of these tiny silver brooches, so understated...
Fine Jewellery
A most unusual version of a giardinetti ring, circa 1780. Flowers were a fashionable theme in jewellery from 1750 to 1800. Intricate and colourful rings were known as giardinetti (little gardens) or...
Fine Jewellery
Georgian mourning ring, circa 1820. The gold shank supports a plaque with an opalescent glass ground surmounted by a diamond-tied wheat sheaf of hair, under domed crystal and within a surround of...
Fine Jewellery
A superior example of a Victorian serpent ring. The ring is hallmarked for Birmingham 1897 and the serpent’s head is set with a cabochon turquoise and diamond eyes. It is size O and 1/2 [US 7 and...
Fine Jewellery
Portuguese rock crystal navette ring, circa 1780. The tapering gold shank supports a head densely pavé-set with natural rock crystal [colourless quartz] within a typically Portuguese gold bead...
Fine Jewellery
High carat gold posy hoop, circa 1700. The substantial high carat gold band is inscribed to interior in italic script with the posy motto : Knitt in one by god alone and a maker’s mark. The posy...
Fine Jewellery
Fine quality Stuart crystal ring, circa 1680. The high carat gold hoop has foliate black enamel shoulders and arcaded reverse filled with black and white enamel. The central compartment contains a...
Fine Jewellery
A reliquary pendant, circa 1680, depicting two saints in contemplative mode. The mount is high carat gold enamelled in vibrant red, green and white. The images are reverse painted on glass and under...
Fine Jewellery
Hispanic reliquary pendant of a particularly neat and wearable size, circa 1700. Trust in the apotropaic powers of saints was strong and devotional jewels like this were worn to protect the wearer. ...
Fine Jewellery
Fine quality Berlin iron necklace, circa 1830. The individual narrative elements are encircled by frames which were cast separately. The pieces were joined afterwards, creating a silhouette effect....
Fine Jewellery
Edwardian bat brooch, circa 1900. The 15 carat gold long-eared bat with outstretched wings has a rose-cut diamond body and ruby eyes, set silver. It is 2 and 1/8 inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide at...
Fine Jewellery
High carat gold brooch, circa 1900, depicting three rather amusingly petulant cats wearing rose-cut diamond collars and reclining on a cushion. The brooch measures 1 and 1/4 inches by 2/3 of an inch....
Fine Jewellery
A rare aluminium bracelet, circa 1860 stamped on the clasp DV for Henri-Etienne Deville. Aluminium enjoyed great celebrity when a process for refining it was discovered in 1825 and initially it was...
Fine Jewellery
Fine quality and substantial high carat gold bangle, circa 1860. The bangle is set with three domed cabochon garnets surmounted by diamond stars. It is 1/3 of an inch wide at obverse, 1/2 an inch wide...
Fine Jewellery
Fine quality and substantial memento mori skull ring dated 1723. The high carat gold hoop is enamelled to exterior with a skull amidst thistle flowers and foliage. Thistles in the language of mourning...
Fine Jewellery
A seditious allegorical watercolour miniature set to a pendant, circa 1794. Sedition is conduct deemed by legal authority to inspire insurrection against the established order. The tumultuous events...
Fine Jewellery
High carat gold bangle, circa 1860, set with a central dome of pavé turquoise between turquoise and gold wire work mounts. The bangle will fit a wrist of up to and including 7 inches. It is 3/4 of an...
Fine Jewellery
Very fine quality high carat gold bangle, circa 1860. The bangle is set fully round with domes of pavé turquoise within corded gold surrounds. The bangle will fit a wrist of up to and including 7...
Fine Jewellery
A rare high carat gold signet ring, late Tudor period, circa 1600. Signet or seal rings were intensely personal to the owner and not only status symbols but also used as a means of authenticating...
Fine Jewellery
Je ne vois que toi...
Fine Jewellery
King Edward IV died in 1483 and was interred in Windsor Castle. In 1789 during the restoration of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, his tomb was disturbed. Inside a vault workmen found a lead coffin...
Fine Jewellery
A rare gold ring, circa 1780, of interlocking hinged hoops which unfold into a miniature armillary sphere, with a crystal covered bezel containing a lock of hair. The interlocking hoops are concealed...
