Antique French 18K Gold Cat Stick Pin with Reverse Crystal Painting

Hand-Painted Reverse Crystal Miniature Cat 

Executed in the traditional French technique of reverse crystal painting, this exquisite miniature cat portrait is painted on the reverse side of a domed crystal, creating remarkable depth, luminosity, and lifelike expression. The finely detailed fur, expressive eyes, and subtle shading demonstrate the hand of a highly skilled Belle Époque miniature painter.

The crystal is set within an 18K gold mount bearing the French eagle’s head hallmark, the official assay mark used in France to certify solid gold. This hallmark confirms both the metal purity and the French origin of the jewel, placing its creation within one of the most respected traditions of European goldsmithing. Combining fine miniature art with precious materials, this piece stands as both a jewel and a work of collectible decorative art.

French Belle Époque Craftsmanship

This stick pin reflects the refined artistry of France’s Belle Époque, a period celebrated for its elegance, technical innovation, and devotion to the decorative arts. During this era, Parisian ateliers elevated jewelry beyond ornament, blending fine goldsmithing with miniature painting, engraving, and gemstone artistry. Reverse crystal miniatures were especially prized, as they required exceptional skill to paint in reverse, layer by layer, on the back of the crystal to achieve lifelike realism when viewed from the front. Pieces of this type were often commissioned as personal jewels, treasured for their intimate scale and artistic individuality.

18K Gold Setting and Construction

The miniature is framed in a finely worked 18K gold mount, designed to protect the domed crystal while presenting it with understated elegance. The gold is marked with the French eagle’s head hallmark, confirming its legal assay and authenticity as solid French 18-karat gold. This hallmark, introduced in the early 19th century, remains one of the most trusted symbols of French gold quality and origin. The slender stick pin stem is balanced and precisely proportioned, allowing the piece to be worn securely while maintaining the delicate visual presence expected of high-quality antique stick pins.

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