A charming Victorian-era fob dating to 1880, featuring a finely rendered spaniel or setter in 11K gold, mounted on a 10K gold base with a polished carnelian plaque forming the underside. The dog’s expressive form is accented by two garnet eyes, adding a particularly delightful detail to this wonderfully whimsical piece. Fobs were originally functional accessories, traditionally suspended from a watch chain and used to carry or display a small seal, key, or other personal item. During the Victorian era, they evolved into highly decorative pieces of jewelry, often incorporating sentimental, sporting, or figural motifs.
The fob measures approximately 1.2 inches from the top of the bail to the bottom by 1 inch wide and weighs 13.80 grams. It remains in great antique condition.
Gemstone identification has been confirmed using Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive analytical technique that provides a precise chemical fingerprint to verify authenticity.
Metal authenticity has been professionally verified using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis and traditional jeweler’s acid testing, confirming the 11K gold dog and solid 10K gold base construction.
