Description: We think on balance that this is an Ashford marble piece rather than Italian pietra dura - either way its beautifully made and just a lovely, tactile cross. Pietra dura (hard stone in italian) describes the technique of setting different coloured hardstones into Belgian slate to create a picture, most of this work was done in Florence but there was a cottage industry in the UK in Ashford, Derbyshire where this type of work was done.
Age: c1870 Victorian
Size and weight: 27.34g cross 6.3cm x 3.4cm , 0.9cm deep
Materials: Black slate, turquoise and other hardstones.
Condition: Good antique condition as shown in pictures, few chips to the slate, couple of small losses. Top bale is slightly bent and there is another attached metal ring currently.
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Have items to sell or exchange? – We buy pretty much all jewellery and can take scrap or broken gold as payment (we match any genuine price available anywhere, no ifs or buts) and if you have antique or interesting pieces we will always do our best to buy.
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