Jessamine

Fine quality miniature silver and colourless paste jessamine brooch from the late 18th century. The word jessamine is an archaic form of jasmine. From the single paste centre are six petals set with calibre-cut paste within surrounds of smaller paste in foiled and closed back settings. The six petalled white jessamine was a favourite English Neo-classical design. This brooch measures  1 and 1/8  inches by 1 and 1/8 inches. It is in sparkling, immaculate condition. From M.D.S Lewis’s Antique Paste Jewellery : Stones now dominate the design and visible metalwork is reduced to a minimum. Simplicity, magnificent workmanship ad shaped stones are characteristic of English paste of this period. For similar in form, see plate 9 in Scarisbrick’s Brilliant Impressions. 

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