A Russian Sapphire And Diamond Horse-shoe Brooch

A Russian Sapphire And Diamond Horse-shoe Brooch

Description

A Russian 19th century diamond and sapphire double horse-shoe brooch, consisted of two interlocking horse-shoes, the one encrusted with eight sapphires, the other with eighteen old-cut diamonds, the later with central flower, with diamond encrusted leaves and cabochon sapphire flowerhead, the diamonds estimated to weigh 3 carats in total, the sapphires 1.9 carats in total, all mounted in yellow gold with gold brooch fitting, hallmarked St Petersburg, 56 Zolotniks (14ct gold), bearing FK maker’s mark for Koechly Frederic Christian (1839-1909), Court Jeweller to Empress Maria Fyodorovna, circa 1886, measuring approximatel 3.6×2.3cm, gross weight 9.5 grams.

An extraordinary Russian sapphire and diamond brooch. This brooch was made in the nineteenth century by Koechly Frederic Christian, court jeweller to Empress Maria Fyodorovna, wife of Tsar Alexander III and mother to Tsar Nicholas II. This brooch is crafted from yellow gold in the shape of two interlocking horseshoes, one set with dazzling diamonds and the other with bright sapphires. The horseshoe has long been associated with luck, and lucky charms abounded in nineteenth-century European jewellery. At the top of the diamond set horseshoe is a diamond set vine, wrapping around the horseshoe and culminating in a further bright and stunning cabochon-cut sapphire. This detailed brooch is eye-catching and exquisite.