Price
£12500.00This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance
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- Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
- Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
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A rock crystal locket, mounted with gold and enamels; Italian or Spanish, 17th century. There are 9 small indentations carved within the rock crystal, possibly for reliquaries, but more likely we think to store ‘shrimp stones’. These are natural secretions from crustaceans which were used as a medicine to treat stomach and eye ailments. Their medicinal qualities were discovered in the Middle Ages, and continued to be sold in pharmacies till as recently as the last century. A very rare and unusual piece.
The BADA Standard
- Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
- Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
- Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
- Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
- Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
