Georgian paste rivière

Large and absolutely luscious Georgian paste rivière, circa 1820. In 1734 George-Frederic Stras of Paris developed a high lead content paste and the result was a brilliant and hard stone that could take a high polish – the eponymous ‘stras’. Fashionable ladies everywhere embraced these new paste ‘jewels’.  The care and workmanship that went into making the best paste jewellery produced glorious pieces that would have dazzled at the greatest of occasions. The stones were foiled to add extra brilliance and catch and reflect light. This ever so slightly graduated rivière is gold and silver and set with large cushion-cut colourless paste in foiled and closed back cut-down settings, with an integral paste clasp. It is 16 inches long. The largest pastes front centre measure 1/3 of an inch by 1/3 of an inch and the smallest next to the clasp measure 1/4 of an inch by 1/4 of an inch. The rivière sits well on the neck, is very fine quality and immaculate.

£5500
Item ref : LS4