Beschreibung:

A gold, enamel and rock crystal pendant, attributed to Falize, circa 1878 The ornate gold pendant with a central circular rock crystal plaque applied with the cyphered initials 'CB', decorated with black and white champlevé enamel, within a beaded gold border, the openwork frame and surmount of scrolling foliate design with fleur-de-lys motifs and doubled initials to the cardinal points, similarly highlighted throughout with champlevé enamel, the reverse with an enamel portrait photograph of a gentleman, by Mathieu-Deroche- pendant unsigned, enamel photograph signed Procédé / Mathieu Deroche / Exp 1878 med d'Or / Paris / Boul*. des Capucines 39 / 27603, brooch fitting deficient, length 6.0cm Fußnoten This lot combines the technical expertise of Mathieu-Deroche- the pioneer of photography on to enamel, with the innovative enamel work of Lucien Falize The 'Procédé Deroche' marked a new phase in portrait miniature during the late 19th century, when the development of photography had resulted in a distinct decline in demand for traditional ivory and enamel portraits. First patented by Alphonse Poitevin in 1855 and later licensed by Deroche, this new and durable carbon technique enabled a photograph to be formed on a glass plate and then transferred onto an enamel miniature before firing. Equally celebrated for his innovative work, Falize was renowned for his exquisite fine enamel jewellery. For a similar suite that demonstrates Falize's use of monochromatic enamel, intricate gold work, cyphered initials and the incorporation of portrait miniature in to jewellery, see Purcell, Katherine, 'Falize a Dynasty of Jewellers', Thames and Hudson, London, 1999, plate 331, page 235. Both Deroche and Falize exhibited their works at the Universal Exhibitions of 1878 and 1889 and, although unsigned, this lot is likely to be the result of a collaboration between the two at the third Exposition Universelle in 1878.