Victorian Snake Brooch
Antique 1880s American Victorian Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1870s Unknown Brooches
Garnet, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s French Victorian Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1840s British Brooches
Turquoise, 15k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Gilt Metal
Antique Early 1900s European Late Victorian Brooches
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Antique 1870s American Victorian Brooches
Rock Crystal, 14k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches
Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl
Antique 1870s French Victorian Brooches
Natural Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 1880s French Brooches
Vermeil, Silver
Antique 1870s American Victorian Brooches
Rock Crystal, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s British Late Victorian Brooches
Gilt Metal
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches
Chrysophrase, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Silver, Enamel, Gilt Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Late Victorian Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Rose Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches
Agate, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s Italian Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique 1870s Italian Victorian Brooches
Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, 22k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary North American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Bangles
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings
White Diamond, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Emerald, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1860s British Early Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Brass
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
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Victorian Snake Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Snake Brooch?
A Close Look at victorian Jewelry
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021As the name suggests, mourning jewelry represents connection to a deceased individual or loved one. In the Victorian era, people were expected to wear mourning clothing and accessories following the death of a loved one. As brooches were popular during the Victorian period, they became a favorite for those who wanted to memorialize the dead. Find a collection of vintage and antique brooches on 1stDibs today.