Victorian Handpainted Portrait Brooch. There is a story to the purple frock and bonnet this lass wears. Before 1856, all fabrics were dyed with natural colors. Then when William Perkins invented coal tar dyes, purple "mauveine" dye was his first product. Purple then popped up everywhere! So you can be sure this young lady wore a brand new outfit from one of those fresh bolts for her portrait.
Continuing the tradition, garb yourself in purple and sport this bit of history. You will have a story ready to tell. Brooch measures 1 7/8" tall. Brass backing. Pin back is a more modern replacement. Very good condition. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH23-05 - $95
Late Victorian 14k Gold Sunburst Brooch with Amethyst. This late Victorian 14k brooch measures 1 1/8" across. The sun's wavy rays are thick and sturdy, swirling around a richly purple faceted amethyst. The clasp is an early safety-clasp type. Unmarked, tests 14k. Very good condition.
The sunburst motif has always been popular and was a frequent design element throughout the nineteenth century. It can be found not only in jewelry, but on many items. It can frequently be seen in surviving examples of Victorian "gingerbread" house moldings. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH255-07 clasp - $275
c1870-1880 Antique Victorian Etruscan Choker. When you want to feel truly special in your appearance, a Victorian Etruscan piece of history will transport you away from the humdrum. The Victorian mania for Revivalism peaked between 1870-1880. The Etruscan Revival was inspired by archaeological finds in Italy.
This is a gilt brass Victorian choker, 14" long. Stylized Etruscan urns are supported between fancy flower-embossed links. Each urn is textured in a pattern imitating gold granulation and supports a dangling bead. The beads are detailed in a complex scroll-over-basket-weave pattern. This is a very hard to find item of antique jewelry, for today's woman. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH49-05 Antique Jewelry,Etruscan 1870c Victorian Necklace ~Close-up - $305
This item has recently been sold.
Antique Carnelian Intaglio Cameo and Silver Earrings. Intaglio carving is the oldest form of stone carving, preceding the more familiar, relief cameo carving. Intaglio, carving into the stone, was used in ancient times to carve seals, which were used to identify property. Carnelian was used extensively for carved seals because it was attractive, hard, and easy to separate from clay and wax. Carnelian is a type of quartz. Its hardness is 7 and it is very durable. In the Mediterranean and Middle East, carnelian is also believed to ward off the evil eye.
During the Victorian period, both men and women wore intaglio carvings and cameos were very popular. There were many pictorial themes, and themes honoring antiquity were favorites. These earrings present the motif from antiquity of Warrior/War and stand for Victor/Peace. The Roman gladiator is easy to understand as the warrior. The laurel-wreathed bust is more complex. Originally a Greek reward to athletic victors, poets and heroes, the laurel leaf symbolism was adopted by the Romans, and was eventually worn by only the most highly placed who stood for something.
The sterling carnelian intaglio cameo earrings measure 13/16" across. Signed "sterling" on screwbacks. Very good condition. Beautiful, wearable jewelry from yesterday, for today's woman. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH56-05 - $295
18th Century Georgian 18K Gold Engraved Buckle. Worn on a silky aqua ribbon around your pretty neck, even Madame Du Barry would approve! This 18k yellow gold antique Georgian buckle measures 1 1/4" across. It is cut into a sharp scallop shape, and is hand engraved all around in a leafy design, separating a pattern of oval lozenges. Beautiful engraving and in very good condition. Wearable history! Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH73-05 - $255
This item has recently been sold.
Victorian 14K Gold and Diamond Pendant/Brooch. This beautiful and elegant antique brooch dates to the end of the 19th century and has a 1 1/4" diameter. It is signed "FFF" for the prestigious jewelry firm F & F Felger, Newark, New Jersey. We have a printout showing that this FFF jewelry was also sold at Tiffany's in 18K.
The brooch has a swivel pendant hoop so that it may be displayed on a chain also. The diamond gauges 20 points and is very white and clean. The pinwheel design is reminiscent of a Celtic swirl. The brooch has a very good weight and is marked 14k in two places. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH76-05 Antique Diamond Brooch,~Back View - $695
Antique Victorian Black Jet Cross Mourning Brooch. This antique Victorian crucifix brooch is formed from "hard" English Whitby jet, the best quality jet for jewelry.
The Whitby jet industry boomed after Queen Victoria entered mourning for her dead husband and wore large quantities of jet. The Victorians lived with death nearby, and women in particular spent much of their lives in mourning. Many infants did not survive and life expectancy was only 42 years. The dead were also kept with the household until burial.
The brooch measures 1 1/4" tall. The cross terminals are capped with hand-engraved yellow gold which tests at least 14k. C-clasp closure. Very good condition. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! DH78-05 Black Jet, Mourning Brooch~ Back - $235
Victorian Crepe Stone Brooch. This type of jewelry is considered rare. It resembles crepe fabric and was fashioned during the 1870s and 1880s.
This antique Victorian brooch is, of all things, fashioned as a rounders bat with balls. The balls are made in two halves of crepe stone and are pegged into the bat's top surface which has a high polish. The bat's sides are matte and textured. The antique c-clasp is brass.
American baseball has its roots in the earlier Irish game "rounders." Today rounders is mainly played in Celtic countries and England, although there is recent international interest. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH111-06 - $130
Victorian Chain with 10K Etruscan Slide. With coats being put away we can now pay more attention to wearing necklaces. It's time to get the antique locket or pendant out of the dresser drawer and finally wear it with this rich-looking Victorian chain!
This 43" long antique curb chain is gold filled with a length that can be adjusted by the slide. The slide is formed as a 10K Etruscan bead and is approximately 1/2" long. Delicate
granulation and seed pearls decorate all around. The ends are notched to allow easy sliding of the chain. Very good condition. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! LH216-08 - $170
Birmingham Sterling Victorian Brooch Dated 1888. This Victorian sterling equestrian theme brooch measures 1 1/16" across and bears hallmarks for the Birmingham town mark (anchor), an 1888 date letter, the lion passant for sterling, and the maker's mark, R.J.D. The cresecent-shaped brooch is treated to a scalloped edge and delicately engraved with leaves and lace. A horseshoe and (damaged) riding crop stand out in relief. Free Shipping/Insurance in the USA! LH215-08 - $50
This item has recently been sold.
Antique Victorian Pink Gold Filled Brooch. This small antique Victorian pin measures just under 1" across and it is pink gold filled. This makes a wonderful and unusual contrast with the central 6mm yellow glass stone, which is prong-set and sits in a yellow gold cup. The pink gold filled surface is exuberantly engraved in a curling tendril pattern. Very slight wear. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH124-07 Victorian brooch front view - $46
Delightfully Fancy Victorian Sterling Monogram - PHB Brooch. A three-letter monogram has come to be the accepted template for initialing--starting far left, the first name initial; far right, the middle initial; and emphasized in the middle, the last name initial.
There was such an interest in monograms during the 19th century that it became known as monogramania and even extended to the collecting of printed monograms and crests.
We imagine that this antique brooch has withstood the test of time because the sterling is one thick piece which has been cut out and hand engraved to create these marvelous capital letters. The script is high Victorian, with flourishes that end in leafy tendrils. The engraving is masterful, with crosshatched shadows, outlining and stippling. The cutouts are complicated, clean and crisp. The brooch measures 2 3/8" across. The catch on the reverse is a large c-clasp. Very good condition. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH125-07 Victorian monogram back view - $135
Victorian Mourning Jewelry Hair Comb. This antique hair comb is topped with five faceted dense black French jet beads. (French jet is a type of glass.) The beads are in very good condition. The central bead measures 14mm across. The framework and comb is steel. The large beads are held by cups which are painted black. The comb shows minute traces of black paint and was originally painted black. The comb has attained a uniform coppery patina. Total height of the hair comb is 3 3/4". Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH131-07 comb close-up back of comb close-up - $48
This item has recently been sold.
Antique Victorian Goldstone Stickpin. This antique stick pin or tie pin features a 7 x 14mm elongated oval goldstone in a braided frame with scrolling flourishes. This pin dates to the 1890s when goldstone was very popular in jewelry. The length of the stickpin is 3 1/16". Their is a little wear to the finish on the frame. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH142-07 - $34
Antique Victorian Two Color Gold Filled Flower Brooch. This antique gold-plated 19th century brooch measures 7/8" across. The flower petals are finished on the edges in a bright, polished pink gold. The inner petals are softly molded and highlighted in yellow gold. There is a central prong-set brilliant. Antique c-clasp closure. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH145-07 - $52
Victorian Gold and Druzy Stone Little Stickpin. This is an antique 14K Victorian stickpin. The length of the entire stickpin is approximately 5/8". The head measures approximately 5/16". A dark olive green druzy stone is set in an elegant claw setting. Very good condition. Shipping/Insurance is free in the USA! DH171-07 - $40
