Antique Iberian Brooch In The Baroque Style, Georgian Emerald (circa 1720–1780), Gold Cross

Important antique emerald brooch in the shape of an ornate quatrefoil cross, 18th century (Baroque / Georgian). Made on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain or Portugal), circa 1720–1780. This museum-quality collector’s piece was entirely handcrafted from high-purity yellow gold and features delicate floral motifs in openwork filigree.

This specific style of symmetrical, richly set filigree jewelry emerged in the 18th century at the royal courts of Madrid and Lisbon. These opulent pieces were worn exclusively by women of the high aristocracy and high nobility during official court galas, royal weddings, and exclusive balls. The four-lobed cross served both as a deeply religious symbol of protection and as an ostentatious sign of extreme wealth and social status.

The center is highlighted by a square step-cut emerald in a raised bezel setting, surrounded by a concentric border of precisely calibrated emeralds. Each of the four ends of the cross is set with a larger square emerald. The entire frame is dotted with additional accents of smaller emeralds.

All the stones are set in the typically historic closed setting and are foil-backed. This technique was used in the 18th century to give the emeralds an incredible, deep luster in the candlelight of the ballrooms of that era. Historically, these stones arrived in Europe via global trade routes.

Originally designed as a splendid pendant, the piece was skillfully fitted with a period pin in the 19th century so that it could be worn as a brooch. An extremely rare piece in the history of European jewelry, in exceptional condition.

Details & Dimensions
• Period: Baroque / Georgian (circa 1720–1780)
• Origin: Spain / Portugal (Iberian)
• Metal: Yellow gold (fineness to be confirmed after testing)
• Stone Setting: Genuine emeralds (clos-set with a pavé setting)
• Cut Shapes: Step cut & cabochon cut
• Dimensions: 5.0 cm long x 5.0 cm wide
• Total weight: 10.7 grams

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The reverse side shows the historic and robust transformation into a brooch dating from the 19th century. Please examine the high-resolution photos, which are an integral part of the condition description.

Important notes: Due to camera settings, lighting conditions during photography, and varying screen settings, the color rendering of the emeralds in the photos may differ slightly from the actual item.Historic jewelry featuring a closed or pavé setting should never be cleaned with water, cleaning products, or in an ultrasonic cleaner, to avoid damaging the original pavé setting. This is not a defect, but rather a characteristic inherent to 18th-century jewelry.