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Jean ascended to the throne in 1350 at a time when France was suffering from the Black Death and was thirteen years into the Hundred Years’ War with England. He was captured by the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and taken to the Tower of London. A treaty with King Edward III promised Jean his freedom if he could pay a ransom equal to three times France’s entire annual revenue. He was granted freedom in exchange for offering his son as a captive while he returned to France to raise the ransom. On December 5, 1360, he issued an order to create an entirely new gold coin to be used for the ransom. The word “franc” meant “freedom,” and thereafter French currency has always been known as the franc. Jean’s son escaped captivity in England in 1363, but in chivalric gesture, the King volunteered to take his place, saying “If good faith were banned from the Earth, it ought to find asylum in the hearts of kings.” He returned to England, where he died the following year.
- Origin: France, 1350-54
- Condition: excellent, sharp detail
- Dimensions: 1-1/4” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring)
- Weight: 8.2 grams
$16,000.00
Henri III (r 1575-1589) was the last king from the House of Valois. He was bullied by his mother, Catherine de Médicis, tried to marry Queen Elizabeth I despite being openly gay, and was eventually assassinated by a Catholic zealot.
Charles IX (r 1562-1589) was Henri III’s older brother and was also bullied by their mother Catherine with whom he orchestrated the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre that killed 70,000 French Protestants.
François I (r 1515-1547) was France’s Renaissance king, known for building projects such as the Châteaux at Fontainebleau, Amboise, and Chambord, and for bringing Leonardo da Vinci (and the Mona Lisa) to France in the artist’s later years.
Charles VII “le Victorieux” or "le Bien Servi (“the Victorious” or “the Well-Served”) (r 1422-1461) was put on the throne through the efforts of Jeanne d’Arc who helped him win the Hundred Years’ War. The coin was minted right around the same year Jeanne was burned at the stake for witchcraft.
Henri IV “le Grand,” “le Bon Roi,” or “le Vert Galant” (“the Great,” “the Good King,” or “the Green Gallant”) (r 1590-1610) was the first king from the House of Bourbon. Though he was originally a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism to claim the throne, famously remarking “Paris is worth a Mass.” He pardoned all Protestants with the Edict of Nantes and was promptly assassinated by yet another Catholic zealot. He was called “le Vert Galant” because of his prowess with numerous simultaneous mistresses even at what was considered the very advanced age of 56.
Henri II (r 1547-1559) was responsible for bringing the previously mentioned notorious Catherine de Médicis to France as his bride. He created the world’s first patent system for new inventions but spent much of the rest of his time cutting out the tongues of Protestant ministers or burning them at the stake. All three of his sons became Kings of France, including one that Henri married off to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was struck in the eye with a lance during a jousting tournament and died of sepsis and brain damage.
- Origin: France, 1429-1610
- Condition: excellent; sharp detail on coins
- Dimensions: 8” long, 1-3/16” maximum width
- Weight: 37.8 grams.
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Origin: England, ca. 1650. Condition: excellent, vivid coloring to the portrait, no losses or water damage to the wirework or hair. Size: 1-1/8” x 1-1/16”.
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Origin: England, ca. 1780. Condition: excellent, no damage to glass panel. Size: 1-5/16" x 13/16". Finger Size: 9-3/4.
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Origin: England, ca. 1775. Condition: excellent, some glue reinforcement of the horsehair in places on the back. Size: 2” x 1-3/8”.
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The rarity of this pendant really cannot be overstated. Very little late 18th century French jewelry survived the Revolution and pieces with a Montgolfier theme are exceptional.
Origin: probably France, ca. 1785. Condition: excellent; a small piece of the balloon carving has become dislodged (probably from the top finial of the balloon) and slipped toward the bottom of the frame (the frame could be opened the the loosened piece reattached). Size: 1-7/8" x 1-5/8".
$3,750.00
- Origin: France or England, ca. 1795
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 1-1/2” diameter
- Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 5.6 carats; sapphire, 1.65 carats
- Weight: 18.3 grams /ul>
$3,750.00
- Origin: England, ca. 1790
- Condition: very good, evidence of 19th century repairs that do not detract from the beauty
- Dimensions: 1-1/2” x 2-1/16” (excluding jump ring)
- Weight: 29.6 grams
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Origin: England, ca. 1790. Condition: excellent. Size: 1-5/32” x 25/32”.
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- Origin: England, ca 1770
- Condition: very good; enamel has a couple of areas of surface flaking to the uppermost layer of the enamel, so the color remains intact throughout
- Dimensions: plaque, 1-3/16" x 15/16"
- Finger Size: 6-1/4
- Weight: 7.1 grmams
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Origin: England, ca. 1785. Condition: excellent, minute loss to enamel, sized. Finger Size: 6-1/2. Size: crown, 7/8” x 11/16”. Weight: 5.2 grams.
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Origin: England, ca. 1800. Condition: excellent, clasp replacement. Size: 23/32” x 6-7/8”.
Satyrs were companions of the god Dionysus/Bacchus. They had the ears, tails and other very specific parts of horses along with grotesquely comical human faces. They were noted for a great enjoyment of wine, women and general carousing.
The ring was purchased from the family descendants of the French artist Carle Vernet (1758-1836). Vernet was something of a dandy right up to his death at the age of 78, and according to family tradition, the ring belonged to him. Vernet was a leading equestrian painter at Napoleon’s court as was awarded the Legion of Honor by the Emperor for his depictions of great French victories. He was likewise favored by Louis XVIII during the Bourbon Restoration. During the Directory period, he was famed for his humorous watercolor caricatures depictions of the ridiculous fashions worn by Paris’ high society.
- Origin: France, ca. 1810 (carnelian considerably older).
- Finger Size: 6 1/2.
- Dimensions: carnelian crown, 13/16” x 11/16”; shank tapers from 1/2" at the edge of the crown to 3/8” at the back.
- Weight: 10.8 grams.
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Origin: France or England, ca. 1800. Condition: very good, several of the hearts have minor roughnesses to the edges consistent with two centuries of wear. Length: 16-3/4". Weight: 19.0 gr.
$9,750.00
- Origin: likely English or possibly French, ca 1830-40
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 1-1/2” x 11/16”
- Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 6.16 carats
- Weight: 8.8 grams
$550.00
- Origin: England, ca 1830
- Condition: very good
- Dimensions: 5/8" x 1-1/8" Weight: 7.5 grams
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- Origin: probably England, ca. 1810.
- Dimensions: crown, 3/4" x 7/16”.
- Finger Size: 8 1/4.
- Condition: very good; the central stone has a 1-1.5mm flake on one point only visible upon close examination with magnification.
- Weight: 3.8 grams.
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- Origin: Continental Europe, probably France, ca. 1830. Dimensions: 1-9/16” x 1-3/4”.
- Weight: 11.3 grams.
- Condition: excellent; carnelian was never engraved; all original.
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Origin: England, 1811. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: 1" x 9/16". Weight: 3.3 grams.
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Best know as god of the sun, Apollo was also the patron god of archers. One day, he mocked Cupid for the small size of the latter's bow and arrows. In revenge, Cupid shot Apollo with a golden-tipped arrow that would make Apollo fall in first with the first female he saw. Cupid shot Daphne with a lead-tipped arrow that would fill her with disdain for the first male she saw. Knowing she was nearby, Cupid taunted Apollo then flew toward Daphne's location with Apollo giving chase. The sun god immediately fell in love with Daphne and gave chase until the water nymph begged her father to save her, which he did by transforming her into a laurel tree. Apollo made the laurel tree his symbol, and as a last act of love for Daphne, used his powers of youth to transform the tree into an evergreen with eternally green leaves.
- Origin: England, ca. 1800
- Condition: excellent; all original
- Dimensions: intaglio, 1" x 3/4"
- Finger Size: 7-3/4
- Weight:15.6 grams
$1,195.00
- Origin: England, ca. 1815
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 3/4" x 11/16" x 1-3/16"
- Weight: 13.2 grams
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- Origin: England, ca. 1800.
- Condition: excellent; no damage to gold mountings or carnelian; the cross retains its original fluted gold bail; a small (1/32”) flake to one corner of a rock crystal cover.
- Dimensions: 1-7/16” x 1-7/16” (excluding bail).
- Weight: 9.0 grams.
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Origin: probably England, ca. 1835. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: 1-1/8" wide; 7-1/4" long. Weight: 62.8 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.75 cts; emerald, 1.24 cts.
- Origin: France, ca 1840
- Dimensions: 2-9/16" long from top of earwire
- Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, replaced earwires
- Weight: 8.3 grams
$2,500.00
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In 1705, Edmond Halley correctly predicted the comet’s return in 1758. When it returned in 1835 (and in 1910), jewelers were ready with fashionable pins to celebrate the comet’s passage. Most often, these pins are in lower karat gold, instead of 18K as in this example. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
- Origin: England, ca 1835
- Condition: excellent, flakes on the green paste are visible only under magnification
- Dimensions: 1-3/16” long
- Weight: 4.4 grams
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- Origin: England, ca. 1800.
- Condition: very good; no damage or wear except for a small fracture at the uppermost edge of the background in the female cameo visible under magnification.
- Dimensions: 1/2” x 5/8” long (excluding wires). Weight: 7.1 grams.
Origin: England or France, ca. 1800. Condition: excellent, a 1/8" flake on one edge of the front crystal and a couple of 1/8" faded areas to black border, all visible only with strong, raking light. Size: 1-3/8" x 1-3/4" (excluding bail).
$1,850.00
- Origin: France/Belgium, ca. 1790-1820
- Condition: excellent, all parts intact
- Dimensions: 1-15/16” x 3”
- Weight: 13.2 grams
$525.00
In 1705, Edmond Halley correctly predicted the comet’s return in 1758. When it returned again in 1835 (and in 1910), jewelers were ready with fashionable pins to celebrate the comet’s passage.
- Origin: England, ca 1835
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 1-3/8” long
- Weight: 2.9 grams
$1,250.00
- Origin: England, ca 1820
- Condition: excellent, very light wear on some of the citrine’s facet junctions visible upon close inspection
- Dimension: 1-1/16” x 1-3/4” (including jump ring)
- Approximate Citrine Weight: 17.4 carats
- Weight: 13.7 grams
$160.00
- Origin: France, ca. 1889.
- Condition: excellent; bright color; only the most minimal of wear at the corners.
- Dimensions: 2-1/8” x 2-1/8” x 1-3/8”.
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Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, wires are replacements. Size: 1-3/8” long. Weight: 5.5 grams.
$350.00
- Origin: America, ca. 1880.
- Dimensions: 15/16" diameter.
- Weight: 3.6 grams.
- Approximate Total Amethyst Weight: .28 carat.
- Condition: excellent.
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The fleur-de-lis ("lily") was the traditional symbol of French royalty.
Size: 6-1/2 (can easily be sized up or down). Dimensions: crown, 1/2" x 11/16". Weight: 1.9 gr.
- Origin: Birmingham, England, 1849
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 13/16” x 11/16” (excluding bail)
- Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .15 carat
- Weight: 1.9 gram