Exquisite giardinetti brooch featuring an oval cobalt blue enamel center adorned with a gem set flower basket (giardinetti) motif. The central plaque is framed by etched gold leaves and an openwork border meticulously set with paste diamonds. Style & Design Elements • Giardinetti Motif: Italian for "little gardens," this design dates back to the Georgian and Victorian eras, traditionally symbolizing love and sentimentality through floral baskets and vases. • Metalwork: Crafted utilizing silver settings for the bright stones and accented with yellow gold for the realistic leaf patterns, a classic technique used in antique jewellery to maximise the brilliance of the stones. • Vibrant Enamel: The deep royal blue enamel creates a stark, beautiful contrast that draws all attention directly to the shimmering centrepiece. Design Complexity: Multi-layered construction, hand-etched gold overlays, cobalt glass enamelling, and complete closed-back foil closures make this one of the more intricate styles produced by his workshop, pushing its valuation to the higher end of the scale Back & Collet Caught • The "Caught" Setting: the paste stones are not held in by modern thin prongs ("clothes"). Instead, they utilize a collet or bezel setting, where the silver rim is burnished tightly all the way around the perimeter of the stone to lock it in seamlessly. • Closed-Backs: In Georgian construction, foil sheets were placed underneath the paste stones inside a fully sealed metal socket. The closed metallic back protected the foil from moisture. This historical technique was vital because it artificially enhanced the refraction, making glass paste mimic the deep scintillation of antique mine cut diamonds. Measurements: Weight: 14.20 grams Length: approximately 3.50 centimetres Hallmarked Makers mark HAL Essay: lion head London Lion Passat for 925 sterling silver Letter a for the year