Edwardian Marcus & Co Reverse Carved Essex Crystal Pheasant Brooch in Gold

An exceptional antique brooch by Marcus & Co., featuring an Essex crystal style reverse-carved and hand-painted scene of a male and female pheasant nestled among brush. The hand painted detail work is remarkably fine — individual blades of grass, pinpoint feather markings, and subtle landscape elements are all carefully rendered beneath the quartz dome. The revere painted dome sits atop an oval backing of shell, mimicking the cloudy sky. The scene is mounted in a 14K yellow gold bezel with an early safety-style brooch closure. A highly collectible sporting motif from a renowned turn-of-the-century American jewelry firm.

Marcus & Co. is one of America's most prestigious antique jewelry houses, founded in New York City in 1892 by Herman Marcus, a former designer at Tiffany & Co. who trained at the royal court jewelers in Dresden, Germany. The firm's Edwardian and Art Nouveau pieces rivaled the finest European houses of the era, attracting clientele including John D. Rockefeller. Pieces bearing the Marcus & Co. mark are highly sought by collectors worldwide and appear regularly at Sotheby's and Christie's.

DETAILS
Measures 37.5mm wide x 26.2mm tall
14K yellow gold bezel mounting, 16.2g
Essex crystal (reverse carved and hand painted quartz) depicting pheasants
Marcus & Co. / Turn of the Century / Antique

CONDITION
Good antique condition. Small conchoidal chip at the bottom edge of the quartz. There is also a natural internal defect within the quartz on the left side of the scene; it does not obscure the imagery. Light surface wear throughout. Brooch closure functions properly.

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