The Quick Golden Fox

A Cute Little Gold Fox Brooch, c. 1900

€ 489.00 ^*

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 quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”—Do you know the phrase about the quick brown fox that jumps over the lazy dog? In English, it’s used to test keyboards and fonts, since every letter of the alphabet appears at least once in it. Here we see a fox that is anything but brown—instead, it is crafted from gold, which shimmers with a particularly warm glow thanks to an additional layer of fine gold. It looks remarkably lifelike, as even the finest details of its features and fur are clearly visible. This small brooch was crafted c. 1900. At that time, fox hunting was a popular sport among the upper class. On horseback and accompanied by a yapping pack of hounds, the par force hunt—which was widespread in Great Britain—was a welcome opportunity to demonstrate one’s equestrian skills and was, at the same time, a major social event. Presumably, this small brooch once belonged to a passionate hunter and, over a glass of Scotch, provided many an occasion to recount thrilling hunting tales.

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In the late 19th century, a new, unprecedented type of piece of jewellery emerged: so-called “novelty jewellery” caused a sensation with its new, surprising, and previously unthinkable shapes and combinations of materials: Suddenly, little birds perched on swings and became earrings. Many everyday objects found their way onto the lapels of ladies and gentlemen, such as tennis and golf rackets as well as postage stamps, but the world of technology also found its way into this fashion trend. Miniature machines, automobiles, and even the novel telephone served as surprising eye-catchers. The purpose of these pieces was to provide conversation starters in social settings. At birthday parties, a brooch featuring the birthday person’s birth year could be a thoughtful gesture; on hunting trips, a fox brooch could complement an outfit in keeping with the occasion. Even skulls with eyes that lit up thanks to batteries were offered to add a macabre yet lighthearted touch to a dinner party. These pieces of jewellery were not exclusively costume jewellery. Many pieces were, of course, designed for one-time use and made from inexpensive materials. The ever-advancing industrialization, even in the jewelry sector, suddenly made it possible to mass-produce gold-plated and even simply gold-colored brooches and pendants. But even renowned goldsmiths created small novelty pieces from luxurious metals, set with luxurious gemstones: for the fashion for the curious, the surprising, and the whimsical was alive in all strata of society: In fact, the British royal family even played a pioneering role in this regard—and, through their use of jewelry, set the standard by which their subjects then wished to be measured.

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Size & Details

The Quick Golden Fox

€ 489.00 ^*

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.

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The Quick Golden Fox

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