Wide Victorian Bangle, Sterling Silver, Birmingham, Early 1880s

Evergreen

Wide Victorian Bangle, Sterling Silver, Birmingham, Early 1880s

€ 690.00 ^*

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!

Birmingham, England’s second-largest city, had been a major center of the goldsmithing trade since the late Middle Ages. Jewellery production experienced a rapid boom, particularly during the Victorian era, and a significant portion of British jewellery originated in Birmingham. An entire neighborhood, the Jewellery Quarter, was dedicated to the production of jewellery and silverware. It was home to numerous workshops, which, at the height of this development c. 1900, employed some 30,000 people. This bangle was also made in Birmingham, in the workshop of Sydenham Brothers, located at 54 New Edmund Street. The silver hallmarks reveal an interesting detail. While the upper, ornate half was hallmarked as early as 1880, the underside bears the date letter “i” for 1883. The use of prefabricated individual parts, which were only later assembled into a complete piece of jewellery, was quite common in Birmingham’s workshops, which were organized around the division of labor. The front of the wide silver band features a finely crafted design of ivy leaves adorned with delicate engravings. Ornamental appliqués complement the design and lend the surface a beautiful three-dimensional effect. In the Victorian era, ivy was a popular symbol of fidelity and enduring devotion, as the evergreen plant retains its leaves even in winter and, once it has climbed a surface, never lets go. An engraving on the back of the bangle reveals that it was still cherished as a personal gift long after it was made. There we read the dedication “To Morag with Love” from 1957. Thus, the piece of jewellery combines the sentimental symbolism of the Victorian era with a very personal story from the 20th century.

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In Great Britain, silver and gold hallmarks have existed since the 16th century and typically consist of four—and at times five—individual stamps placed side by side, known as “hallmarks.” These hallmarks contain all the information needed to accurately trace a piece’s material, origin, and date. In addition to the manufacturer’s mark—usually two or more initials—we find the mark of the city where the piece was submitted to the official assay office for testing of the precious metal. (For example, London uses a leopard’s head as its city mark, Birmingham an anchor, and Dublin a harp.) A letter, known as the “date letter,” changes regularly in its typography, allowing us to date the pieces to the exact year. In addition, a fineness mark indicates the purity of the precious metal used: For British silver, it distinguishes between two silver standards: a striding lion, the so-called “lion passant,” denotes 925 silver; a female figure seated next to her shield, “Britannia,” denotes the so-called “New Sterling Standard” of 958 silver. Gold is stamped with the corresponding karat values, whereby—unlike in Germany—finenesses of 9 karat (375/000), 15 karats (625/000), 18 karats (750/000), and 22 karats (916/000) are standard. From 1784 to 1890, a fifth hallmark—serving as a tax mark—was sometimes added, featuring the profile of the reigning king or queen, known as the “Sovereign’s head.”

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Size & Details

Evergreen

€ 690.00 ^*

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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