Archive for Victorian Brooches
Victorian mourning brooches for Halloween
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The materials most often used in Victorian black jewellery are Jet, French Jet ( polished black glass), Bog Oak and enamels however early forms of resin and plastics were also found. Here are a few nice Victorian mourning brooches available from antiquesavenue:
Victorian Jet Brooch
A superb Victorian Whitby Jet mourning brooch which has been carved in 3d with a lily of the valley flower. The lily of the valley was a sentimental flower to the Victorians: – sweetness, return to happiness; humility, purity, you’ve made my life complete, birthday flower for May, Legend says that Mary’s tears turned into Lily of the valley at the foot of the cross
This Whitby jet brooch measures about 4.8 x 4 cms and is in lovely antique condition , if you look very closely you can see a small nick to one of the leaves
Victorian Pietra Dura Brooch
A wonderful Pietre dure brooch which will date from the victorian era. Pietre dure is the term given to the technique of using small, exquisitely cut and fitted, highly-polished colored stones to create what amounts to a painting in stone. Here we have a typical stone painting of flowers set into a silver mount. This brooch will date from the Victorian era. It measures a little over 4 cms long and fastens with a simple C catch. This victorian brooch is in excellent condition
Victorian Mourning Locket brooch
This antique brooch will date from the victorian age. It has a central locket compartment which is currently occupied by a picture of a lady. This central locket compartment is surrounded by a black enamel panel . The metal is gold tone. It measures 4 cms long. This brooch will date from time following the death of Price Albert when mourning jewellery was high fashion. The reverse shows signs of light wear to the gold colour of the metal
This one is a little older – A georgian brooch, not black but containing a lock of the deceaseds hair:
Georgian Mourning Brooch
A genuine antique brooch which is approximately 200 years old. This Georgian brooch has a central glass covered compartment and the metal will be gold filled ( a gold outer with metal core) The central compartment contains a weave of hair with a gold scroll over. This antique brooch is typical of Georgian jewellery.This brooch fastens with a simple C catch, it measures about 1.8 cms wide – crikey perhaps its haunted
What ever piece of antique jewellery you choose this Haloween – Happy Haunting!
Victorian Micro Mosaic brooch
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porcelain plaques for antique brooches
Posted by: | CommentsYou can often find older brooches , especially Victorian brooches, set with porcelain plaques which have been painted or printed. These brooches are quite decorative and very collectible.
Try looking out for some with classical European paintings:
Hand painted with Birds brooch :
Or how about a collection of hand painted vintage floral brooches?
These three types of vintage brooch all have the inset porcelain plaque in common. They vary in age with the top one being mid-Victorian, the central one being later Victorian and the lower one being an Edwardian brooch.
All should be treated with reasonable care as porcelain chips easily and the pictures would come off if they are subjected to harsh cleaning materials. How should you clean them – hopefully a gentle wipe with a soft dry cloth. If this doesn’t work a well wrung out damp cloth or just a touch of washing up liquid if really necessary. Do not let the damp get to the setting if you can help it as most likely the settings are just costume jewellery and will tarnish and rust easily.
Porcelain plaque brooches can be found from just a few pounds upwards depending on the quality of the painting ( a named artist would increase the price) and also the metal it is set into.
Whitby Jet – victorian brooches made from coal
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Whitby Jet comes from Whitby on the North East coast of England. It is a natural material which has been formed over millions of years from coal. This is the finest of the forms of jet and was greatly sought after. Whitby jet was carved and shaped into most forms of Victorian Jewelry and very often seen in brooches. Its very black colour suited the fashion for mourning Jewellery which was set by Queen Victoria following the death of her husband Prince Albert.
Whitby jet is: Light weight & can be highly polished or left matt. It has a subtle coal smell when you rub it hard and leaves a brown coloured trace if you rub it lightly on a rough surface ( please be very careful not to do this with precious antiques!)Another way of identifying real jet is to see how the brooch fastening has been attached. With real jet you will often see that it has been drilled or riveted into the reverse of the jet rather than stuck on to the back.
Care of Whitby Jet Brooch
Your Jet brooch should not need much cleaning, if it does just a simple wipe over with a soft dry cloth or if dust gets deep into carvings then this can be removed with a clean soft makeup brooch or similar.
The brooches you can seen in these pictures are both carved from Whitby Jet. The top brooch is set with mother of pearl. The lower one features a maiden with flowers in her hair.
Michelle Obama wears vintage brooch at inaugeration
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