Victorian Engraved Rose Gold-Filled Cross Pendant Inlaid with Connemara Marble, Circa 1880s-1910s

Rose gold-filled cross pendant with hand-engraved feathered decoration, each arm inlaid with an oval cabochon of mottled green Connemara marble.

Connemara marble, "Irish green," is found only in the Connemara region of County Galway, where it formed some 460 million years ago; its green swirls come from serpentine within the stone. Quarried since the 1700s, it became a beloved emblem of Ireland, and small crosses and brooches set with polished Connemara marble were carried home by Victorian travelers and treasured by Irish emigrants in America as a piece of the homeland. Today it is recognized as Ireland's national gemstone.

Shows light wear consistent with age.