At Kirsten’s Corner we always find a bit of magic in the reverse-painted Essex crystal items. They are made with a painstaking technique that involves carving on the back of the crystal and then delicately painting an image so that a three dimensional form is captured within the stone. In this charm, we see a wild turkey flying above a grassy field. The bird has beautiful details in its wings, with each individual feather carved out and painted in rich brown hues. The crystal is backed in Mother of Pearl, adding another layer of luminous shine. The reference to snow globes is ever present and taps into childhood magic.Â
The charm was converted from Edwardian cufflinks, circa 1910. We also have its counterpart, the
18K Gold Essex Crystal Pheasant Charm, available in our shop. Unmarked but acid tests as 18k gold. (The 18k mark was found on the other cufflink in the pair.)Â