Vintage Antique Stick Pin With Carved Opal Bust of a Man Attributed to Wilhelm Schmidt

Description

A fine antique Victorian stick pin.

With a finely carved opal bust of a Renaissance period man wearing a feathered … more A fine antique Victorian stick pin.

With a finely carved opal bust of a Renaissance period man wearing a feathered cap & full beard (possibly a depiction of Christopher Columbus).

Attributed to Wilhelm Schmidt.

Wilhelm Schmidt was a renowned Idar-Oberstein gemstone cutter. Having trained as a student under the renowned cameo cutter Arsène in Paris, Schmidt perfected the process of cutting opal cameos and figures while incorporating rough matrix in his work.

Schmidt worked in Paris, London, and New York throughout his career. Being of the highest quality, his work was in high demand during his lifetime and he supplied many of the top jewelry house in the world including Tiffany & Co., Juliano, Child & Child, and John Brogden.

The bust is mounted on a 14k pin back and stem.

Simply a wonderful Victorian period stick pin!

Date:
Late 19th or Early 20th Century

Overall Condition:
It is in overall good, as-pictured, used estate condition.

Condition Details:
There are light bends to the pin stem. Otherwise, there is some light edge wear, some fine and light surface scratches, and other signs of light wear consistent with age.

Fineness:
Unmarked for gold fineness. Professionally tests at 14k.

Gemstone Measurements:
1 Opal Bust: ca. 18.75mm x 12.5mm x 8.25mm

Measurements:
Length: ca. 90mm
Width: ca. 13mm
Depth: ca. 14mm

Weight: ca. 3.7g less