Georgian “Doves of Pliny” Cameo Brooch

An antique 18k yellow gold Pietra Dura (hard stone) brooch with pearls & rubies (c. 1870-1880). This exquisite brooch showcases a pietra dura mosaic featuring the Birds of Pliny, bea...

Rare Pair of Georgian REGARD Turtle Dove Brooches, ca. 1820s A symbolic and museum-collectable example of acrostic jewels, featuring two doves, mounted with various gemstones, where the gems spell out "regard" - (R)uby (E)merald (G)arnet (A)methyst (R)uby (D)iamond. The pieces are further accentuated with fine cannetille gold work throughout. About Acrostic Jewellery and Turtle Doves In acrostic jewels the first letter of each gemstone spells out a word. Typical examples are words of endearment like "adore", "dearest" and "regard". The utterly romantic trend of acrostic jewels began in the Georgian era and flourished throughout the Victorian period. It is believed that acrostic jewelry was first created by Jean-Baptiste Mellerio of the House of Mellerio, who started designing jewels with gems that spelled out “j’adore.” Napoleon Bonaparte admired Mellario’s acrostic designs and commissioned acrostic jewels for both Empress Josephine and his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. Secret messages of love encoded in gems went perfectly with the Georgian and Victorian love of romance and symbolic meanings. These sentimental jewels would have been gifted to lovers, family members, or even treasured friends. Further to being acrostic jewels, these doves also represent love and faithfulness, because they mate for life, work together to build nests and raise their young together. They are immortalized in literary and poetic works, such as the Old Testament, and artists like Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser...

Pieces like these transcend being a piece of jewelry alone; this is history. Made some time between the early 1700’s and the early 1800’s, this brooch has been hand made in silver and 18K yellow gold. It is centered by a partially faceted and carved, high-relief amethyst cameo...

Georgian 15K yellow gold mourning brooch / pin - set with a carved floral agate cameo to the center (approx. 10 mm. x 6 mm.) - the cameo surrounded by an enamel and gold border inscr...