A 19th century French gold, diamond, emerald and enamel Renaissance Revival brooch with natural...

A 19th century French gold, diamond, emerald and enamel Renaissance Revival brooch with natural pearl drop, modelled as the figure of 'Mélusine' legendary founder of the La Rochefoucauld family, with polychrome enamel body, set with old-brilliant-cut diamond detail and emerald collet motifs and ruby-set head ornament and necklace, the blue translucent enamel wings diamond set with engraved detail to the reverse, suspending a natural baroque pearl drop, circa 1860, French import mark and assay mark indicating 18ct gold, detachable brooch fitting, approximate length 7.5cm

Accompanied by report number 394106, dated 30th September 2022, from the Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie, LFG, Paris, stating that the pearl was found to be natural saltwater with no indications of treatment, approximate dimensions 16.3 x 16.1 x 9.9mm

Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Martin Du Daffoy, 16, place Vendôme 75001 Paris

According to French mythology Mélusine was the half-fay, daughter of Pressyne, a water-nymph and Elynas, King of Albany. Mélusine was cursed by her mother to have a fish's body from the waist down. Thanks to her association with the mighty Lusignan family and to the popularising of her legend by Jehan d’Arras, Mélusine is the name that has been given to many of them by default. At least three other great families claim descent from her (though Proust, who was clearly fascinated by the legend, adds a fictional fourth, the Guermantes), namely the Luxembourgs, the La Rochefoucaulds and the Sassenages.