Featured It is becoming a growing new collection... Cross pendant!

as says my favorite Lady Dragon!

 

Another Austro-Hungarian cross, I've lost count how many I have now.
Silver, partly gilded, set with sapphires and Basra pearls, most of which are damaged. Two survived, one on the left arm and one on the lower part, in between the sapphires. @Dessert58 , those two are the type of pearl to look for on AH jewellery.

Apologies for the bad quality of the pics.



Decorated back, in true AH fashion:

 

AJ, its lovely!
You can never have enough Austo Hungarian crosses
I found a pearl/garnet pendant in my hoard, which makes me second guess its origins
Will post it here for a second opinion when I unearth it

 

True! Or Austro-Hungarian jewellery in general.

Looking forward. I'm sure it is beautiful whatever its origin, you only buy beautiful 'stuff'.
I know, you'd rather avoid certain things. But just remember, Bengel is German too.

 

AJ,
Damn, you got me with Bengel!
I don't particularly dislike German jewelry.
Its just that I don't like these things that pretend they are something they are in fact not.
I like true, honest, what you see is what you get.
Not fairytale -made to look old- Trachten-thingies from the seventies

 

Those Trachten-thingies are not as evil as they seem. They are simply a continuation of a regional tradition, to be worn with traditional regional dress.
Both dress and jewellery have evolved a little over the years, but for both there is a clear link with the past. They have 'raison d'être'.

 

From Spain, silver filigree and glass beads. The filigree cross is missing a few granules, but who cares, at that age:



It is actually on a rosary. These black rosaries were worn as protective necklaces, to ward of evil:



The stylised crowned heart of Mary is also a beauty:


Another Spanish protective rosary necklace. The plated cross is more austere and it is huge:

 

AJ, those are amazing! Especially the filigree one.
I might have opened up a bit for German jewelry, but I m sure you have a soft spot for Spanish crosses now

 

Thank you Dessert. Yes, the filigree one is a stunner.

Ethnic and filigree, two of my loves. And to me there is something very moving about these Spanish pieces, because they meant so much to the wearers. Not only a necklace and a sign of their faith, but also the belief in protection in troubled times.

As you know there is another ethnic filigree one on its way as we speak. With coral!
(And German.)

 

An unusual silver ajour cross from Friesland, northern Netherlands:

 

AJ, your new one is even more amazing, if that is even possible
Yes, to me jewelry doesn't necessarily have to be made of the finest materials.
It has to 'speak to me'. I m often touched by silly little pieces that might look average to someone else, but when you look a bit closer, you notice they have a past, they have been loved and cared for.
Still, wouldn't mind finding me a big pile of gold. With a 2 carat diamond please!

 

It was a rare find, the only one I have ever seen.
While this abundant floral ajour style is very Dutch, I have never seen it incorporated in a cross. And such an unusual shaped cross too.
It came from a Frisian family. No maker's mark, but they said it was Frisian made.