Modernist 1970 Convertible Maltese Pendant Brooch In 18Kt Gold With 106.86 Cts In Multi Gemstones
Convertible Maltese Cross pendant brooch.
A flamboyant and colorful iconic piece, created with modernist patterns, back in the 1970. This convertible oversized Maltese pendant-brooch has been carefully assembled with elements crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats, with brushed, satined, textured and polished finish, creating a great surfaces contrast. It is suited at the reverse, with a hinged double pins with a trombone security lock to wear as a brooch and a removable retractable piece to wear as a pendant.
Although the Maltese cross design had already been used for more than 2000 years since ancient times, fashion and jewelry houses such as Verdura, Channel and Bvlgari integrated this very popular model into their designs. Being since then an icon of high fashion. One of the most iconic pieces of jewelry depicting a Maltese cross, was designed by Fulco Di Verdura (1899-1978) in 1920, when he created the iconic Maltese cross cuff bracelet for his friend Coco Chanel.
It is embellished, with 17 colorful gemstones having a total combined weight of 106.86 carats, they are individually described as follow;
In the center, in a bezel setting with one Sugarloaf cabochon cut (20 x 20 x 8 mm) of Afghani green Chrysoprase of 22.90 carat.
Screwed setting, with 4 Japanese cultured white mabe pearls of 16 mm.
Four-prong set, with 4 round cabochon cut (5 mm) of natural Italian red coral, with a total of 3 carats.
Bezel set, with 4 round cabochon cut (10 x 10 x 8 mm) of Afghani green chrysoprase, with a total weight of 22.88 carats.
Bezel set, with 4 oval cabochon cut (12 x 20 x 8 mm) of Hungarian greenish malachite, with a total weight of 58.08 carats.
It is pretty heavy and large, with a total weight of 104.2 Grams and a measurements of 95 mm by 89 mm (3.75 by 3.5 Inches).
Stamped, with the maker's mark, the hallmark for the assay of the 18kt gold and signed, "INDUSTRIA ARGENTINA 18KT".
Note: The Maltese cross, is a cross symbol, consisting of four "V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight-pointed crosses in the 16th century. Although chiefly associated with the Knights Hospitaller (Order of St. John, now the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), and by extension with the island of Malta, it has come to be used by a wide array of entities since the early modern period, notably the Order of Saint Stephen, the city of Amalfi, the Polish Order of the White Eagle (1709), the Prussian order Pour le Mérite (1740), and the Bavarian Military Merit Order (1866).
It is in great vintage condition, with great eye appeal and huge luxurious look.
INVENTORY REF: P0000EESN/1.669
