Victorian Antique Forget-Me-Not Mourning Brooch - Chalcedony & Turquoise - Gilt Metal - c1880 - A2139

Summary

A Victorian gilt metal brooch set with a polished chalcedony panel, centred on a forget-me-not flower formed from small turquoise cabochons.  It could have been worn as both a love token or a piece of second period mourning jewellery.

Description

The brooch dates to around 1880 and is constructed in gilt metal. The central oval panel is polished chalcedony, a translucent, waxy stone that catches the light and onto its surface is fitted a forget-me-not flower, each petal and centre formed from small turquoise cabochons. The flower is held within the panel by bent pins, which allows a degree of natural movement; this is characteristic of the construction method and not a fault.

Forget-me-nots carried a specific weight in the Victorian sentimental vocabulary - worn to signal remembrance, fidelity, or grief. Pieces of this type served double duty as love tokens between the living and as mourning jewellery for the bereaved, the flower's meaning shifting with the wearer's circumstance.

A safety chain is fitted to the reverse. The pin is set in the vertical position.

Condition

Very good for period. The gilt metal retains a fresh, bright appearance with no significant wear. Some movement to the flower panel, as noted above, is normal for this type of construction.

Approximate Measurements

• Width: 5cm [2in]
• Height: 4.2cm [1.7in]
• Weight: 22.20g (before packing)
• Material: Gilt metal, chalcedony, turquoise

Stock Code: A2139 NV24-2

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