Victorian Mourning Brooch With Message, Great Britain Circa 1845 & Later

Regard

Victorian Mourning Brooch With Message, Great Britain Circa 1845 & Later

€ 1,980.00 ^*

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 pieces of jewellery we sell are often charged with meaning. Rarely, however, are they as multi-layered as this brooch from around 1845, which is often due to the materials used and their significance in the history of jewellery. The small, voluminously curved gold brooch, with fine black-ground enameling, is worked as a locket. There is a small glazed compartment on the back, which can be fitted with a woven strand of hair. The front is decorated with natural pearls. Natural pearls were used extensively in the 19th century and had different meanings. In connection with the social rules of mourning after the death of a loved one, they were often part of mourning jewelry. This is one such Victorian piece of mourning jewellery. The center of the brooch is adorned with an arrangement of small flowers surrounded by a frame of pearls. Violets are presumably depicted here. The violet, often somewhat neglected in German, has a wonderful symbolism in other languages and cultures. In French, it is nicknamed "(herbe de la) pensée", meaning "plant of remembrance", and is therefore regarded as a symbol of loving remembrance. The English term "pansy" is derived from this French "pensée". It is also similar in Italian. Here it is called "viola del pensiero", "violet of remembrance". However, the meaning of the middle violet is further enhanced by the fact that its petals are made up of different gemstones, making the brooch an "acrostic jewel", i.e. a piece of jewellery with a hidden message. The composition of the gemstones and thus their meaning can be explained by the initial letters of their names. Specifically, there are two rubies and one each of emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby and a small rose cut diamonds. The first letters of these gemstones form the acronym "REGARD", which is best translated as "appreciation" in German. We suspect that the colored stones were later inserted into the brooch to reinforce its significance as a loving memento. We discovered this piece of jewellery in the south of England.

Size & Details

Regard

€ 1,980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

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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.

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