Victorian English Gold and Reverse Crystal Hunting Brooch

An English Victorian 18 karat gold reverse crystal brooch. The finely painted crystal brooch represents ducks in lift-off. The yellow and red gold frame is decorated with dimensional pussy willows intertwined with ribbon.Reverse crystal intaglios are a rock crystal cabochon with an intaglio carved into the flat back and then painted with oils, giving the image a three-dimensional appearance..The technique originated in Belgium c. 1860 and was popularized in England c. 1860's by Thomas Cook.The intaglio is then painted realistically with oils so, that when viewed from the top, the image has a three-dimensional effect. Finally, the back was sealed with mother-of-pearl which preserved the painted areas. The motifs most commonly found were sporting themes - horses, dogs, foxes and birds.