Belle Époque Austrian Crystal Brooch in 18ct Yellow Gold

An 18ct yellow gold, seed pearl, mother-of-pearl and enamel, round, Austrian, reverse painted intaglio rock crystal brooch from the Belle Époque period. A polished section of rock crystal has been expertly reverse carved and hand painted in the form of the rare rich blue Enzian (Gentian) mountain flower. This beautiful centrepiece has been brought to life by a mother-of-pearl backing and is surrounded by a border of crisp white enamel, which is defined by a small seed pearl. These types of brooches were an Austrian speciality at the turn of the last century, with rich symbolism attached to these pieces. The Gentian flower was widely seen as a symbol of victory, with the accompanying pearl signifying wisdom. As such, this brooch may well have been created to celebrate Austrian victory during the Boxer Rebellion that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century.
The delicate nature of this piece, combined with the rich blue colour of the Enzian flowers, makes this perfect to wear on the lapel of a beautiful cream coat.