Antique Georgian Diamond Miniature Portrait Pendant With Heart Box

An exquisite antique Georgian pendant/ brooch featuring a beautiful, hand-painted miniature portrait in the centre, depicting a beautiful woman in a traditional white gown, with a fabulous, curly hairstyle painted silver, with jewels on the left. It’s finely detailed with a soft palette of blues and whites and is preserved behind a domed glass window. 

Before the advent of photography, portrait miniatures were a popular addition to jewellery pieces and were often painted in water colours or enamel. The miniatures often depicted portraits of beloved family members, but sometimes portrayed famous paintings or icons as well, such as members of the Royal family. We believe this one has some resemblance to Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, who was a beloved icon of the era and known for her large “pouf” hairstyle like the one depicted in the painting.   

The portrait is collet-set in a rosy 18ct gold gallery with a silver bow on top, decorated with glistening rose-cut diamonds that also chase up the bale (approx. 0.34ct total). It’s fitted with a foldaway loop and a pin at the back that can be unscrewed, allowing it to be worn exclusively as a pendant, or a brooch.   

This is a rare and highly collectable piece with a beautiful work of art in the centre. It dates to the early 19th Century and is accompanied by its original heart box, featuring a lovely red leatherette exterior and gold trim. Both are in excellent condition and the box bears the maker’s mark “Colling Wood & Co” under the lid, an established London-based jewellers who had crafted pieces for the Royal family.

We recommend you insure for £4,000. We can provide a written Valuation on completion of the sale.  

WEIGHT: 9.1 grams 

MEASURES: Height 32mm (43mm inc. loop) x Width 22mm x Depth 7mm – Portrait 17 x 21mm 

METAL: Silver/ 18ct Gold (Tested) 

STONES: Diamonds (approx. 0.34ct total)

AGE: Georgian. (Circa 1800 - 1830)  

CONDITION: Excellent, commensurate with age 

ITEM NUMBER: PS04 

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