Crosses have been worn as symbols of Christianity for thousands of years, and the nineteenth century saw a surge of popularity in this motif with the Church being held in absolute regard, and piety cherished above all. The custom of wearing a cross pendant has remained in vogue ever since.
Victorians had a mad love affair with all things Ancient. The passion for ancient history was fueled by archaeological discoveries and written accounts of the exploits of ancient civilizations made this period ripe for revivals of ancient jewelry styles, including a classical revival of Greek and Etruscan styles. An avid search was made for the secret of Etruscan granulation with jeweler Fortunato Pio Castelliani claiming to have found the answer in a remote area of the Apennines. Using his granulation skills and other ancient jewelry techniques, he went on to produce many amazing replicas of the jewels discovered in the excavations of these ancient Greek civilizations. The techniques he learned spread quickly throughout Europe.
This large antique cross pendant has Etruscan Revival ornamentation on each station with a faceted square piece at the center. We are loving the large, decorated bale! A great piece for all of those Boho ensembles!
Details (approximate)
Dimensions: 3 7/16"
Weight: 8.7 grams
Metal: Gold Filled
Marks: None
Condition: Excellent Antique condition commensurate with age and wear