KING OF PRUSSIA -Intaglio Tassie of Frederick the Great

FREDERICK THE GREAT Tassie Intaglio Seal
(Frederick II of Prussia with Order of the Black Eagle)

Frederick was Sovereign & Master of the Order 1740-86; this image appears to date from the Seven Years War period (1756-63).

Size : diameter 1.3 cm x depth .5 cm;
pendant height 2 cm from bale

in later gold frame : tested 15-16k gold

Provenance : a Williamsburg Virginia collection
# 30062 d 1 ................................. $ 575.

James Tassie of Glasgow (1735-99) developed the technique of glass very finely molded in miniature profile likenesses -- in which he competed with the “jasper” ceramic profiles of Josiah Wedgwood.
The smallest Tassies were made for mounting in rings, fobs and other jewelry, or for collectors to mount in albums.
Images were cast from gems of antiquity, and the popularity of his product was such that famous collections of ancient gems were made available to him. He also produced portrait miniatures, both intaglio and cameo,, of famous persons of the 17th century and contemporaries.
Production of “Tassies” was continued by his nephew and partner William Tassie (1777-1860) followed by their successor James Wilson from circa 1840.*