Antique Reverse Painted Pansy Glass Brooch Essex Crystal Style Floral Pin

Beautiful antique oval floral brooch featuring a dimensional pansy beneath a domed clear glass/crystal cabochon. The central design depicts a red, pink and white pansy surrounded by green foliage and small yellow buds. The floral image has wonderful depth beneath the domed surface, while the background has a luminous, pearlescent quality that changes subtly in the light. The cabochon is framed by an ornate gold-tone metal border with repeating raised oval and ribbed details. The reverse has an early-style long pin stem with a simple open catch. This type of jewelry is associated with the reverse-painted crystal/glass technique, sometimes described in the collector market as Essex crystal style. True Essex crystal work involves carving and painting the reverse of clear crystal to create the illusion of a miniature image floating beneath the surface. No maker's mark or metal purity mark is visible. A particularly pretty antique floral piece for collectors of pansy jewelry, reverse-painted jewelry, Victorian/Edwardian accessories and sentimental flower jewelry. Condition: Antique pre-owned condition with visible age-related patina, oxidation/verdigris and finish wear to the metal, particularly around the perimeter and reverse. The painted floral design shows age-related wear/loss. The domed surface has expected light wear. Pin and catch are intact. Please review all photographs closely for condition. MEASUREMENTS Approximately 1 5/8" wide × 1 1/8" tall. Domed construction gives