ESSEX CRYSTALL was first brought to Europe, presumably from Belgium. Specifically in the Kingdom of England, the ESSEX CRYSTALL technology was used in 1858-60 by the jeweler-master and innovator, Thomas Cook, and the cameo crystals were sold in London to Hancock’s jewelry store, which, in turn, offered to paint the intaglio with colored enamel to the court artist William Essex, where, in fact, the name ESSEX CRYSTALL came from.
William Essex is famous for painting miniature portraits of Queen Victoria in colored enamel, and they were valued primarily by Queen Victoria herself. Let’s figure out what ESSEX CRYSTALL is? This is a crystal of the purest natural rock crystal, in which a three-dimensional image is carved using the intaglio technique, and unlike the classic intaglio, not on the back surface of the crystal, but on the front, and not only the intaglio, but also covered with multi-colored colored enamel (!), which makes The image is also in color. Such ESSEX CRYSTALL were framed mainly in 12K and 14K gold and inlaid with diamonds.
The plot developed in three directions: floral motif, marine theme, animals, birds. ESSEX CRYSTALL’s work is complex, labor-intensive, and requires special skills and the highest craftsmanship. These antique pieces from the Victorian era have great value among collectors and cannot be faked.