British Brooches

An antique diamond, ruby, silver, and yellow gold stick pin, comprising twenty-six rose cut diamonds, and one cabochon ruby, in silver and 18 and 9 karat yellow gold. This Victoria...

This gorgeous victorian brooch holds an anchor, heart and cross. this stands for Faith, hope and charity. Brooch Dimensions: 46x15mm Weight: 2.2g

Orchid flower pendant-brooch designed by Elizabeth Gage. Exceptional pendant-brooch, created in London by the British jewelry designer Elizabeth Gage, back in the 1990. This piece o...

An antique diamond, pearl, and yellow gold stick pin, comprising an old mine cut diamond, and seven seed pearls, in 15 karat and 9 karat yellow gold. This lovely stick pin is set t...

Lava cameo brooch of Demeter, or Ceres in Latin (as she was known to the Romans) with a crown of wheat sheaves in her hair. The gold openwork bezel is of 12K and is an unusual pointe...

A Victorian diamond, ruby, emerald, silver, and yellow gold pendant and brooch, comprising twelve cushion shaped emeralds, four round cut rubies, three cushion shaped rubies, four ol...

A late Victorian caduceus pearl and diamond stickpin, the two entwined snakes with black enamel decorations, the wings encrusted with rose-cut diamonds, the staff terminating to a pearl on each end, mounted in silver and gold, with gold pin, circa 1890, measuring 2 x 1 cm, the pin measuring 6.8cm long, gross weight 1.8 grams. This antique stick pin...

A Regency gem-set brooch, early 19th Century. It is designed as a butterfly - the body and wings set with amethyst and citrine and the head of the butterfly is set with a rose-cut ga...

A Victorian demantoid garnet and diamond lizard brooch, the writhing lizard encrusted with old brilliant-cut diamonds, estimated to weigh a total...

An antique amethyst, pearl, and yellow gold stick pin, comprising one round, faceted amethyst, and one half seed pearl, set in 18 karat yellow gold, with a 18 karat yellow gold pin. ...

This is the most delicately decorated piece of bog oak in the shape of a tree studded with tiny gold rivets and decorated with with an engraved god leaf and a diamond set golden flow...

E. Wolfe & Co is a family-run fine jewellery manufacturing Workshop, established in 1850 and located in central London. They specialize in creating beautiful bespoke pieces - such as...

This stunning pendant holds a total of approx 75pts of rose cut diamonds and three natural pearls. The rose cut diamonds are clean and bright and have the most wonderful sparkle. Modelled in 18carat...

A faceted Morganite, diamond and 18 karat gold brooch, by John Donald, 1972. The brooch is stamped with maker's mark JAD, and dated with London hallmarks. John Donald is a designer...

Amazingly detailed sepia painting of Cupid bestowing flowers on a young maiden. This navette shaped brooch, set in 15K gold, was a gift of love. On the reverse side can be seen two s...

This wonderfully detailed Victorian sterling silver floral 2-Piece belt buckle with a matching floral sterling silver brooch. The 2-piece floral belt buckle measures 5 inches in...

Antique Victorian 15kt yellow gold cushion-shaped horse-shoe sapphire and diamond brooch. Made in England, Circa 1890s The dimensions - Size: 3.2 x 2.8 cm Weight: 7.00 grams Sap...

A fine Scottish market kilt brooch in the form of a Dirk. In (English) sterling silver. Set with agate, jasper, a round citrine, and paste stones. Hall...

This sweet bug perched on this fine brooch and is encrusted with seed pearls. The gorgeous bug has a pink gem stone set within it. Dimensions Of Bug:...

An Edwardian diamond openwork brooch/pendant, to the centre an old mine-cut diamond estimated to weigh 0.7 carats, within a cluster formed by fourteen ...

Victorian Gold with Silver Rose-cut Diamonds and Pearls Arrow Brooch. Created around 1895. Presented in the original box. Highly collectable item. Arrow has been always considered as a sign of love. Once it was common to communicate a message via pin or brooch. Nowadays this art is lost, but we can surely start a new tradition. For Example, an arrow worn down is definitely a “no” answer. Arrow that appears on your jacket up is a “yes”. Suits both women and men. This a perfect example and a representative item of the Victorian era, when both Ladies and Gents were wearing jewelry. A true unisex brooch. Former Secretary of state Madeleine Albright...

An Edwardian diamond bow brooch, the open ribbon tied bow with old-cut diamond set cross-over centre and diamond set barley twist border with bla...

A Victorian 9 karat yellow gold ruby owl brooch This charming bar brooch has a seated owl to its centre which is beautifully detailed in yellow and ...

Unique Antique Silver and 9ct gold Diamond Set Petal Shape, Crystal Brooch Unique Antique Silver and 9ct gold Diamond Set Petal Shape, Crystal Brooch with Pin and Roll Catch, with O...

A very finely made gold and platinum brooch. It is the best quality from the Edwardian period (1900-1914) with intricate detail and 9 very fine Russian demantoid garnet...

An Edwardian aquamarine, pearl, white and yellow gold brooch, comprising one oval cut aquamarine, and six seed pearls, set in 15 karat yellow gold, with 15 karat yellow gold pin and ...

One (1) 14Karat Yellow Gold Jewelry set, including one (1) Brooch and one (1) pair of earrings set with Three (3) pieces of hand painted portrait Porcelain ca 1870 (England) Total weight: 16.21 gram One (1) Original fitted Case...

Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring of Pearls Pin. Delicate and dainty 3mm pearls set in a circle for a simple yet elegant design. The size of pin pendant is...

A vintage amethyst stickpin in 15 karat yellow gold, circa 1930. This elegant stickpin features a two round cut amethysts side by side against a fre...

A diamond set duck brooch, with round brilliant-cut diamonds, with pinky-brown tint to represent feathers, pavé set in platinum, with an 18ct yellow gold wing and oxidised metal deta...

An Odeon Style Art Deco diamond and platinum double clip brooch, in a geometric design, with two tapered columns, pavé set with eight-cut diamonds, hemmed with baguette-cut diamonds,...

A Victorian, gold, Etruscan style suite, consisting of a pair of drop earrings and a matching brooch, with pendant fitting, circa 1875. The earrings measure 49 x 23mm. The pendant m...

A Victorian diamond double serpent brooch, the central old European-cut diamond weighing approximately 0.55 carat, surrounded by two entwinned serpents ...

This exquisite Victorian-era clip pendant is a timeless blend of elegance and versatility. Crafted from silver-plated gold, it features a captivating floral-inspired design that show...

A late Georgian topaz brooch, the brooch set with a central oval-shaped faceted golden topaz, measuring approximately 13.5 x 11.7 mm, rose gold c...

A late Victorian yellow gold and diamond Caduceus brooch, the winged staff white claw-set throughout with old brilliant-cut and rose-cut diamon...

This exquisite brooch features a stylized cloud from design embellished with an exquisite landscape pictorial executed in hand done Guilloche enamel . The scene is one of a twilight ...

An Anglo-Indian yellow gold demi-parure of a fine cone-work finish, consisting of a brooch and pair of drop earrings, the circular shaped brooch, with a central dome surrounded by se...

A Victorian, Etruscan style brooch and earrings suite, comprising an oval brooch, with three layers, with a central dome, all decorated with Etruscan style wire work, with a loop on ...

This stunning Art Deco brooch features a vibrant design centring around a 1.10 carat, antique cushion cut sapphire, flanked by a pair of smaller 0.50 carat sapphires. Adding to the b...

Edwardian Lucky Horseshoe Gold Fronted design Silver brooch with Full Btish hallmarks By Silversmith S.B - Stainton Brothers Dated 1903

Georgian Dated 1750-1800 silver and gold rose-cut diamond brooch. Approx. 4 1/2 cts of diamonds. Very fine workmanship. Weight is ap 17.2 dwts, Size is ap 3 .14 x 1.64 inches.

An Arts & Crafts sterling silver and enamel brooch designed by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co., dated Birmingham, 1907. The brooch features a planished circular form with stylized s...

This Victorian brooch displays a captivating circular design, featuring a single original antique synthetic ruby at its centre. The claw set synthetic ruby weighs 3.50 carat and is c...

This fabulous crescent brooch has seed pearls set within the 9ct gold. I always like to mention that crescent brooches can be hooked onto a chain to make a gorgeous pendant. Cresce...

Composed of a shovel, pick axe and nugget, and a late Victorian gold bar brooch, brooch length 5.4cm.

A late Victorian pearl frog brooch, set with natural seed pearls and cushion-cut ruby eyes, mounted in 18ct yellow gold, with an 18ct stamp, English, circa ...

An Edwardian star ruby and diamond cluster stick pin, the oval shaped cabochon-cut ruby estimated to weigh 0.5 carats, surrounded by eighteen rose-cut d...

Magnificent piece from the Georgian Period. An antique stick pin brooch, created in the United Kingdom between the kingdoms of George III (17...

An Victorian opal and diamond flower brooch, with a central old brilliant-cut diamond in a silver collet and five petals each set at centre ...

Incredible 18kt Yellow Gold & Sapphire Brooch made in the U.K & signed. Marked Handmade in U.K. and dated marked, as well as initialed TAD.. Signed Durant. Beautiful emerald cut S...

This charming insect brooch from the Haruni Vaults is handmade in 18k yellow gold with deep blue sapphires forming the body, pave-set sparkling diamonds in the wings, and round ruby ...

A granulated jewel of a brooch, set in 18kt soft toned gold, showcases a star of gleaming natural pearls on turquoise blue enamel. Layers and texture were created by the jeweler's ha...

Antique Edwardian 9kt Gold and Silver Greyhound Brooch This brooch, crafted in 9kt gold and silver, depicts a greyhound in mid-leap. It is from the E...

An Art Deco diamond and pearl circular brooch, the open circle set with graduated diamonds, one side set with three round old-cut diamonds suspending two lines of diamonds with brilliant-cut diamonds leading to a marquise-cut diamond attached to a pearl, the diamonds estimated to weigh 3.2 carats in total, all set in platinum, circa 1920, measuring approximately 4.6 x 2.8cm, gross weight 5.5 grams An Art Deco diamond and pearl brooch...

One (1) 18 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch, with safty lock. Model: "CHICK". Set with two (2) cabuchon cut natural Sapphires = 0.12 ct. (no treatment) and with...

Antique shell cameo brooch and earrings by John Brogden, English, circa 1870. A yellow gold suite of jewellery, the brooch composed of a horizontally situated oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo of the Greek goddess Selene riding a serpentine dragon in a rubover collet setting, encircled by a conforming frame of gold beading and twisted gold wire punctuated with four gold palmette form plaques engraved and decorated with dark blue enamel and placed at the cardinal points, the reverse mounted with a hinged pin and scroll clasp, the earrings each composed of a vertical oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo engraved with a bust length portrait of Selene with crescent-set headdress, encircled by a conforming frame matching that of the brooch with the addition of a pendant decoration composed of a horizontal bar of gold beading and twisted gold wires suspending gold link chains graduated from centre and ending in conical gold elements, the reverses mounted with French wire fittings, all in a fitted red leather case, the interior marked ‘FIRST CLASS PARIS MEDAL/ 1855.1867.1851/ PARIS FIRST CLASS & LONDON PRIZE MEDALS/ JOHN BROGDON/ Goldsmith/ MANUFACTORY/ 16, Henrietta St. Covent Garden/ London’. The cameo—defined as a gem, usually either a mineral or a shell, upon which a design has been carved in relief—is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Greece, during the third century BC. These miniature sculptures, at that time confined to the medium of hardstone, are thought to have been made with the primary purpose of personal adornment. The same practice of mounting cameos in jewellery was then continued by the Ancient Romans, and they are known to have been worn by many a Roman emperor. After the fall of Rome the fashion for cameos went into a decline, until it was again revived during the Renaissance period, brought about by a keen interest in the ancient world. At this time both antique and contemporary cameos were mounted in jewellery, as well as collected as objet d’art. The art of cameo cutting was revived in Italy, where it would remain a centre for the coming centuries. Again there was a lull in interest in carved gemstones, until the Neoclassical revival of the eighteenth century, largely stimulated by the discoveries of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. As with the Renaissance, antique specimens were generally prized over modern cameos, and the worldliest men in Europe held them among their collections of art and antiques. That said, carving centres in Rome and Torre del Greco (near Naples) in Italy were established in response to the demand of the Grand Tourists, who travelled to Italy and Greece to become educated in the wonders of the ancient world. It was at this time that shell cameos, mostly made in Torre del Greco due to its proximity to the sea, became more popular, owing to the relative ease in carving shell over hardstone. In addition to Rome, hardstone cameos also became a specialty of Idar Oberstein, Germany, which had a long history with both the gem mining and cutting trade. In a shift away from the collector’s cases of the previous century, the nineteenth century saw a strengthening in the fashion for wearable cameos. After the Empress Josephine donned a cameo-set suite of jewellery at the coronation of Napoleon in 1804, cameo jewellery became all the rage. Napoleon played a further hand in promoting the art by establishing a gemstone carving school in Paris, inspired by his appreciation for the arts of the ancient world. By the mid-nineteenth century shell cameos, in part due to their lightness compared with hardstone cameos, were the height of fashion. Large shell cameos as well as hardstone cameos were set into contemporary mounts, often as suites of jewellery. Some of the best cameos of the nineteenth century—carved by a select group of recognized carvers—were set into revivalist mounts, corresponding to the subject matter. In Victorian England cameo jewellery was particularly prized, due in part to the fact that the Queen owned and wore a number of cameo jewels. One example which can often be seen in official portraits is the Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert, carved by Tommaso Saulini of Rome, who also produced cameos for the maker of the present suite, John Brogden. To meet demand some carvers set themselves up in London, including William Schmidt, a German carver from Idar Oberstein, who produced cameos for top London jewellers, including Brogden, Carlo Giuliano and Child & Child. In fact, Schmidt purports to have been the first to carve cameos out of opal, which Brogden reportedly displayed in the Paris Exhibition of 1878. An extant example, now in the collection of the British Museum, was set by the Giuliano firm. Regarding subject matter, cameos throughout time have been largely figural, from bust length profile portraits to scenes with multiple full-length figures, and sometimes animals. Ancient Greek and Roman cameos often depicted mythological scenes as well as contemporary figures. During the Renaissance, mythological scenes were popular, often taken directly from ancient sculpture, as well as portraits of notable contemporary figures. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, due to the revivalist styles, both Renaissance and Classical subjects were copied and set into matching (and sometimes unmatching) revivalist mounts. From the Renaissance through the Victorian era, being able to recognize the source of the carving in a cameo was a mark of erudition, revealing in the wearer knowledge of Classical art. As mentioned, the present cameo parure...

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...