Our love was born / outside the walls / in the wind / in the night / in the earth / and that's why the clay and the flower / the mud and the roots / know your name
Pablo Neruda
georgian rock crystal pink drop brooch
A late eighteenth century portuguese brooch in the form of a decorative bow, set with colorless rock crystal (quartz) in silver, suspending a pear-shaped pendant featuring a pink topaz-colored rock crystal, c clasp to the reverse, 2.5 in by 2.5 in, 24 grams, circa 1770.
Eighteenth century Portuguese jewelry reached a zenith of excellence and attractiveness hitherto unparalleled. Certain distinctive patterns are observed, particularly the girandole, named for an ornamental branched candlestick, consisting of three drops suspended from a decorative central piece. Some pieces were set with colored stones such as chrysoberyl, topaz, and amethyst, while others were set with paste or colorless crystals, known in Portugal as 'minas novas.' The stones are often magnificently varied in size and shape, and these pieces are rare and highly prized by knowledgeable collectors.