Antique "Pebble" Brooch In Silver, Great Britain c. 1890

Symbol of Hope

Antique "Pebble" Brooch In Silver, Great Britain c. 1890

€ 890.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

The dream of the sea has always inspired people. The freedom to sail to the horizon and beyond, the mysterious depth of the waves and the beauty of exotic beaches: danger and seduction are inextricably linked with the idea of sailing the vast expanses of water. Many elements of seafaring have therefore found their place in the symbolism of our Western civilization. The anchor is a particularly prominent example. In the Christian religion, it is a symbol of hope, because just as the anchor holds the ship securely in place, hope and the promise of resurrection bind people to God (cf. Mark 15:38). This anchor from Scotland can at least provide support in terms of style. The brooch is composed of polished agate and jasper set in silver. This type of jewelry is known today as "pebble jewellery". Ginny Redington Dawes and Corinne Davidov: Victorian Jewelry. Unexplored Treasures, New York / London / Paris 1991, pp. 57-95, have compiled numerous wonderful examples of these pieces. What they have in common is that they combine colorful gemstones from the Scottish mountains into traditional motifs such as brooches, buckles or Celtic crosses, always seeking a picturesque impression. There are also numerous anchors on page 72 that resemble our example. The large anchor came to us from London and can be worn by both men and women.

Learn more

In the second half of the 19th century, Scottish-style jewellery became popular in Great Britain, so-called "Scotch Pebbles". The writings of Walter Scott, which idealized the original and natural life in Scotland, led to a veritable mania for everything that came from this northernmost part of the British Isles. The royal family also spent extended vacations in the Highlands, with Queen Victoria acquiring Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands in 1848. Here, people liked to be portrayed in the typical Scottish costume - which also included various pieces of jewelry with semi-precious stones. This fashion was adopted by large sections of the population and confirmed the old adage "As goes the Queen, so does the commoner". The jewellery that was created in this way up until the end of the 19th century preferred to set agates, jaspers and onyxes in silver - as is the case with this brooch: it presents the polished stones set in silver in the form of a large flower. The stones from the Scottish Highlands show natural stripe patterns and each of them offers a different image.

Learn more

Size & Details

Symbol of Hope

€ 890.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

Learn more

Symbol of Hope

Brooches & Pins

Privacy settings