Rare and remarkable Spanish Iberian jewelry treasure from the Georgian era. An Emerald cross pendant, made in Cordoba, during the 18th century. This estate pendant encrusted with 34 individual table-cut emeralds within a setting and body of chased, filigree-worked, articulated, and granulated 18 karat yellow gold. The upper element, with its stylized rendering of a floral decor, while it's bottom element is set with emeralds in a rosette setting. 
 
The combination of high-karat gold with emeralds is a well-known color palette associated with 17th and 18th century Iberian jewelry from Spain. From the 16th century, Spanish global overseas trading had brought the empire in abundance of raw materials for Spanish jewelers: gold and emeralds from Colombia, coral and pearls from Central and South America, silver from Mexico and Bolivia, rubies from Southeast Asia and other precious gems from Brazil and India. The emerald mines in Colombia, Brazil and Peru were very rich by the 17th century, the best of Spanish jewelry was associated with the use of emeralds.
 
This remarkable pendant would have been originally worn on a ribbon inserted through wide loops attached along the reverse. Therefore, this pendant should have been larger. The back is stamped with a lion hallmark, a regional mark for Cordoba, Spain.
 
Eyelet: 14k (eyelet is placed in a later period)
Pendant: 18k
Stamped: Lion 
Length: 7.0 cm
Width: 3.5 cm
Weight: 10.3 grams
 
This beautiful gold emerald pendant will be delivered in a beautiful jewelry box.