Rare striated natural white agate, cut to an oval in a 9ct gold framed brooch

Agates are a semi-precious stone by modern reckoning but they once served as a major contributor to jewellery and other status symbols such as atop sword hilts etc. Of the agates, I believe that white agate is regarded as one of the finest and least common. This example is beautifully cut, polished and mounted with a plethora of prongs / fingers to ensure the valued stone is firmly held in the frame. A rule of thumb, according to a local jeweller, the more prongs (35 by my count), the more value that has been placed on the stone. As a further safety measure there is also a small hoop on the underside of the frame to enable a safety chain to be fitted if desired. The brooch is 43mm by 35mm and a body depth of 7mm excluding the c clasp and pin. The total weight is 17.55 grams. If unsold the brooch will become a stock item at the Auld Curiosities website.

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