Pair of chrysoberyl brooches, mid 18th Century, probably Iberian

One designed as a bow, the other as a lozenge motif, set with variously-shaped chrysoberyls in closed back settings and highlighted with lines of beading, later brooch fittings.

Cf: Anna Beatriz Chadour, ‘The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, Volume I’, Leeds 1994, page 288,
Cf: M.D.S. Lewis, ‘Antique Paste Jewellery’, London 1970, page 86, plate 6,
Cf: Ginny Redington Dawes and Olivia Collings, ‘Georgian Jewellery 1714-1830’, Suffolk 2007, page 106, all for similar examples of these jewels.

Bow brooch mounted in silver and gold with later brooch pin to the reverse, lozenge brooch mounted in gold with later metal plaque and brooch pin applied to the reverse. Chrysoberyls light and medium green, typical inclusions visible under magnification, abrasions to facet edges. Abrasions and slight tarnish to mounts consistent with age and wear. Both jewels adapted/converted from larger jewels.
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There are silmilar examples of Portuguese chysoberyl jewellery from mid-late 18th Century at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.