Commesso pendant with a female bust

c.1550-60

French (or English?)

Probably in the collection of Queen Caroline; first documented in the Royal Collection by 1755

Female bust in low relief and in profile to the right. Her head is made of carnelian and her long curly hair is chased gold. Her tunic of amethyst is fastened with a brooch over her right shoulder. She wears a gold, feathered turban set with a ruby, two garnets and an emerald. The figure is set against a punched gold background with a corded gold wire rim. It is surmounted by a suspension loop in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. ...