Piqu̩ is a decorative technique, in which gold or silver are inlaid into an object to form a pattern; originated in the mid-1600s in Italy and developed in France, it was first applied to boxes and other small objets; the technique spread to jewelry in the early 19th century, blossoming in the 1850s-1880s, especially as English manufacturers developed mass-production methods Рwhich in turn caused the designs to grow less naturalistic and more geometric reflecting the automated techniques; highly characteristic of tortoiseshell jewelry, in fact, sometimes the term is used as shorthand for a tortoishell piece decorated in this way.
I am pleased to offer this wonderful pair of Antique Victorian Piqué Cuff Buttons which were the precurser to cufflinks. They feature an inlay of 14K gold in the form of an inital B. The back assembly is gold filled. They measure a tad over 3/4″ in diameter. They are in fine antique condition with one flake off the bottom of each. This is quite common for Piqué items that are over 125 years old. I have shown them in a back shot of the links. On a cuff, it really wouldn’t be noticible.
A wonderful and rare addition to a Victorian jewelry or cufflink collection.
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