Edwardian Gold Brooch with Natural Seed Pearls, British, c. 1910

Pearls for the Day

Edwardian Gold Brooch with Natural Seed Pearls, British, c. 1910

€ 2,190.00 ^*

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!

Gold jewellery with a rich setting of small seed pearls is typical British jewellery of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At this time, jewellery in warm, shiny yellow gold was fashionable as daytime jewelry. Its rich pearl setting was also a testament to the status of the Empire: pearls flowed into Britain from India, Ceylon and Australia in rich quantities - and the jewellery of the ladies in London showed this wealth and the pride in it. Necklaces and pendants in particular were created using this technique, but also many an elegant brooch, such as this elegant piece. The design combines fashionable influences that had come to Britain from the continent. The details such as the laurel tendrils and flowers come from the repertoire of the so-called "Garland Style", which was inspired by the classicism of Louis XVI. The elegant tendrils that complete the design on the outside are children of French Art Nouveau. In combination with the rich pearl trimming, the French models become something typically British. The design language of the piece suggests that the brooch was created in c. 1910. It is made of 625/000 gold. This is a typically British gold alloy, which was used in many Victorian and Edwardian pieces of jewellery, but only until 1932, after which its use was banned. So this also helps to date the piece of jewellery. We discovered the piece in London.

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"The beauty conferred on pearls is worthy of thousands of bold divers, coastal dwellers of the Persian Gulf, that the daring pearl fishermen of Ceylon and Japan do not fear the horrors and dangers of the deep, do not shy away from encounters with sharks and sawfish, do not fear the deadly embrace of polyps, in order to bring the pearl oyster lying on the gloomy sea bottom to the bright light of the sun. But not every one of these shells rewards the effort and discomfort of its predator, and hundreds deceive the hopeful expectation of delicious contents. If, however, one is found that contains the longed-for treasure, it is not uncommon for it to give the lucky finder many pearls of different sizes. Manifold in shape, in colors ranging from the deepest black to dazzling white, often yellowish, more rarely shimmering in pink, lovely due to its glittering enamel, the pearl has managed to gain the place next to the colorful diamond in its appreciation." With these words, the magazine Der Bazar described the hardships and dangers of pearl fishing in 1888. The passage vividly illustrates why pearls were so precious in those years - because the invention of the cultured pearl and thus the secure, risk-free harvest of the precious gem was still in the future. Accordingly, fine natural pearls were often not just framing accessories, but were chosen as the protagonists of precious jewels. As with diamonds, the value of a pearl increased exponentially with its size.

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Size & Details

Pearls for the Day

€ 2,190.00 ^*

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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