Renaissance-revival gold and enamel gem-set pendant-brooch, Castellani, circa 1860

In 17th century South German taste, set with variously-cut rubies and emeralds and supporting 3 emerald drops, centering an arched gallery supported by mythical beasts and scrolls, accented throughout with opaque white and black  enamel and translucent red and green enamel, the reverse engraved with arabesques and mythical creatures, unsigned. 

Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center, New York, November 2004-February 2005, p. 56, fig. 2-48. Also exhibited at Somerset House, London, May -September 2005 and Villa Giulia, Rome, November 2005-February 2006.  

Although unsigned, the pendant offered here is one of a series based on a very similar jewel in the Victoria and Albert Museum, originally thought to date from the late Renaissance, now considered a 19th century reproduction. This re-attributed example in the museum is now thought to have been made by Castellani as it bears a striking resemblance to other very similar jewels bearing his signature. See  Munn, Castellani and Giuliano, Revivalist Jewellers of the 19th Century, pl. 182-183.  The Victoria and Albert Museum example is also illustrated in the catalogue Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, The Bard Graduate Center,  p. 367, no. 138. 

A very similar pendant to the one offered here, with pearl pendants instead of emeralds, signed with the Castellani monogram, was sold by Sotheby's in Toronto, November 1991, lot 633.