Victorian Crystal Horse and Rider Hunting Scene in 18ct Yellow Gold

A characterful Victorian 18ct yellow gold and Essex crystal horse and rider hunting pin. Expertly detailed mid jump the gleaming chestnut horse and rich red hunt coat clad rider are in eager pursuit of a fox in this dramatic scene. Showcasing exceptional craftsmanship a clear piece of rock crystal has been painstakingly reverse carved and painted (largely referred to as Essex Crystal). Fox hunting can be traced back to the early 16th-century, and was a hugely important pastime for wealthy and noble landowners in the 19th-and-20th-centuries. The season ran from October to May, and hunts took place on nearly all the major country estates. Hunting parties have also long been associated with royalty with the future King Edward VII hosting many at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Mounted in 18ct yellow gold this pin would have originally been worn by an elegant lady participating in a hunt, and would have been displayed prominently on the lapel of her jacket or used to secure her hunting stock/scarf.