Sublime Carved Black Opal Bird Stickpin

Here is an example of a scarce and finely rendered turn-of-the-century Edwardian gold stickpin. A superb black opal coveted for its vivid flashes of light, has the image of a bird taking flight from the branch of a tree in bloom. This gemstone carving is the matrix of a opal set into a 14k yellow gold stickpin. The carving alone is exquisite; not to be outdone is the artist’s rendering of the relief, creatively incorporating the brown body (or boulder) of the opal to represent the flowering and twisting branch while the bird with wings aloft plays the role as the blue green opal in an array of dazzling colors.

Condition: Excellent

Hallmarks: On the reverse signed “J&M” as a maker’s mark.

Measurements: More than 3-1/8 inches (8 cm) in overall length. Head is just shy of ¾ of an inch (1.8 cm) by more than ½ of an inch (1.4 cm). Has a weight of 3.4 grams.

Date: Circa 1900