Fine quality Victorian gold stick pin

Essex crystal head showing a racing horse and jockey.

To create this piece the rock crystal is cut into a cabochon (domed) shape and then worked from the reverse by carving into the crystal and then painting. 

It is sometimes known as reverse intaglio and gives the illusion of the painting floating in the crystal Essex crystal demands a very fine and delicate technique, this is a lovely example. 

The term Essex crystal comes from the work of William Essex, a much regarded Victorian artist who favoured this reverse intaglio technique for creating miniature masterpieces

The stick is of 18ct gold, unmarked but testing as such.