1870s Brooches

14k yellow gold brooch set with coral – 17.6 grams detailed description: the diameter of the brooch is 3.4 cm wide by 1.8 cm high weight 17.6 grams set with - 21 x 5.2 mm – 1.3 ...

Victorian 18k yellow gold brooch with stone pearls – 1.6 grams Detailed description: The brooch measures 1.5 cm long by 3.8 cm wide Weight: ...

The cameo in addition to being a beautiful brooch is important to both Christians and people of the Jewish faith. For Christians it signifies Jesus' sacrifice. For Jews it is the Fir...

This charming brooch with a miniature painting depicting amor was created in 1870 ca. The miniature painting shows cupid holding a light in his left hand. In his right hand he is hol...

Period: XX century Dimensions: 2.90 x 2.80 cm Carats: 4,50 total cts Weight: 5,75 gr This brooch dating back to the beginning of the 20th century stands out for the presence of bril...

This versatile piece of jewellery can be worn as a pendant or brooch. The pendant loop is on a hinge that can be folded in and out. The rose diamonds are set in silver and backed ont...

Charming 19th C. Egyptian Revival Micro Mosaic Brooch circa 1870's, Italy. Designed as a micromosaic of a pharaoh head set in 14k setting of gold bead and twisted wirework. Very fine...

Victorian Topaz Pendant Brooch set in 10k gold. Simple, elegant design of oval and round sherry colored topazes set into almost invisible crow...

Meticulously carved in semi-precious Chalcedony with exquisite detail this lovely three-piece set consisting of a Pre-Victorian Cameo Pendant and Earring Pair is in remarkable condi...

Lovely 19th Century Diamond and Carbuncle Garnet Beetle. Realistically modeled with large cabochon garnet set in high gold prongs with body elements all ...

Exceptional 19th C. Egyptian Revival Micro Mosaic Brooch circa 1870's, Italy. Designed as a micromosaic of a pharaoh head set in 14k setting of gold bead and twisted wirework. Incred...

This sparkling star is set with graduated old mine rose diamonds in silver backed onto 9 karat gold. This star would have been part of a set that could be converted into a hairpin or...

Flying Swallow This graceful Victorian Swallow brooch is 1870 ca Depicted with wings spread in flight, epitome of grace and beauty Expertly rendered by the Victorian masters of solid...

In very good condition. Total weight is 5.8 grams. Totally is diamond about 0.60 ct. The diamond is has H-I-J color and s1-s2. Acid tested to be real 18k gold. Please contact for any...

Ruffled oval brooch, which can form a collar watch holder, in 18kt yellow gold centered with a cameo on malachite depicting Cupid in profile, his head turned, holding his loose bow, ...

Exceptional Edwardian Corsage Ornament set in silver with pastes. Lovely design with central motif held by 3 sets of paste and faux pearl set swag chains, hanging off sword hilt...

Extraordinarily cool 19th Century "Secret Lover" Brooch with locket fitting. Most likely French in manufacture, this exquisitely crafted brooch is the work of a master jeweler of the period. The detailing is extraordinary and can only be appreciated with the aid of a loupe. A photo or ivory miniature of a loved one (possibly secret) was inserted into the locket from the back. A mechanical fan...

Brooch with a cameo on agate in an oval decoration punctuated with rubies, white pearls and black enamel. 18K yellow gold frame. French work. Original box. Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.80 cm....

DETAILS • unsigned • gold tone with glass • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 44 ❤️❤️ VINT...

Period: Late 19th century. Dimensions: 5.5 cm x 3 cm. Weight: 13.6 gr. A rose gold brooch and pendant, adorned with an oval cameo on agate representing a richly dressed woman, with...

Lovely Victorian 18K Gold Etruscan Bar Pin from the mid to late 19th Century. Beautiful hand applied gold shot and wirework on Victorian base. 2.25" x .4". 1870's USA.

Here we have a remarkable piece of jewellery taken from the Victorian period. This antique pendant come brooch showcases a padlock design set at the centre with a smooth cabochon roc...

Unusual angelskin coral brooch form the late 19th Century of a Neoclassical maiden flanked by 2 grotesque figures. Beautifully hand carved with ...

Unusual Victorian Butterfly Wing Stickpin set in 14k gold. Mid 19th Century with a small moth or butterfly caught under glass with an iridescent blue butterfly wing back ground. Supe...

A Victorian moonstone, diamond, enamel, silver and yellow gold brooch, comprising two round cabochon moonstones, three rose cut diamonds, and bi-colour enamel, in silver and 18 karat...

A Victorian pearl, enamel, and yellow gold brooch, comprising one round pearl, and white enamel accents, in 14 karat yellow gold. This outstanding Victorian brooch is set to the ce...

We are delighted to offer this stunning antique Victorian 14ct gold garnet and diamond star brooch/pendant made c.1870. This piece features such a sweet, intricate yet sophisticated...

Lovers of Scottish Jewelry unite and cheer this sterling silver large dirk set with moss agate bloodstone and carnelian, topped by a beautiful prism s...

Charming and Unusual Victorian Enamel and Diamond Handkerchief Brooch from the 19th Century in original box. 18k gold novelty brooch with enamel and rose diamond accents within initi...

Massive and exceptional 19th Century Paste Sword Jabot Brooch from the l9th Century. Designed likely for a heavy cloak or cape set in sterling with pastes ...

One Victorian 1870s brooch is crafted in 14 karat yellow gold and features a beautifully carved 16.5 x 12.9mm tiger’s eye cameo depicting the profile of a classical male figure facin...

A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 4.64 carat diamond and 9 karat yellow gold, silver set brooch; part of our diverse antique diamond jewelry collections. This stunni...

Stunning Convertible Diamond star Pendant / Brooch Set in 14K gold. Approximate 1.35 Carats of Old Mine cut diamonds. The back is fitted with a pin clasp and chain hoop, allowing you...

A Victorian yellow gold, diamond, and enamel brooch, comprising three rose cut diamonds, and hand painted enamel, in 18 karat yellow gold, with silver pin. This exquisite Victorian...

A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 5.50 carat diamond, 9 karat white gold and silver set brooch; part of our diverse antique jewellery collections. This stunning, fin...

Charming and Rare Tiffany Carved Labradorite Frog 18K Stick Pin from the late 19th Century. The stone has been cleverly chosen and beautifully carved to reflect the blueish green iri...

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...

A love letter to a departed soul, this tender piece manifests as an envelope that folds over a pearl studded arrow and is sealed with a forget-me-not flower. Circa 1870, this early Victorian brooch is cast in 14k gold with a beautiful acid wash matte finish. The forget-me-not, a sentimental image often seen in mourning jewelry, consists of a chrysoberyl cat’s eye surrounded by six old cut diamonds bead set into its petals. The whimsical arrow is encrusted with eight pearls that look beautiful against the matte gold. On the back of the brooch, a portrait of a woman is held in an oval frame. She has braided hair, wears beautiful jewelry, and was clearly very loved by the brooch’s original owner. The blue-grey cat’s eye has lovely chatoyancy that shimmers as it moves, making the piece even more magical. Chatoyancy is an optical phenomenon seen in certain stones, caused by light reflecting off of parallel needle-like elements within the stone, this is the cat’s eye effect.  In addition, the chrysoberyl has a trait known as adularesence—a milky sheen or glowing light that seems to come from below the surface of the stone. The effect is caused by layers of orthoclase and albite that reflect and scatter light. The brooch measures 2” x 3/4” and weighs 10 grams. The chrysoberyl measures 3.25 mm. The six natural old cut diamonds measure 2.25 and equal .15 of a carat...

his lovely antique brooch is Victorian period, 1870 circa Elegantly designed in a triumph of Diamond rays complemented by natural not nucleated salt sea Pearls and swinging drop Pear...

Charming Victorian Fox Stickpin from the 19th Century of hand painted porcelain set in a gold filled surround. 3" length, Porcelain .75" x .65".

Charming Victorian Painted Miniature Brooch with a surround of half pearls. A finely painted miniature watercolor of a young child playing a harp in t...

A Victorian 14k rose gold rose-cut diamond spider pin, set with a single rectangular shape emerald and natural pearl abdomen. Circa 1860. The spider's legs are set with 74 rose-cut...

HIGH VICTORIAN (= VIENNESE HISTORICISM) GOLDEN JEWELRY SET: PAIR OF EARDROPS AND BROOCH MADE OF GOLD 14ct, COVERED WITH SMALL EMERALDS. ELEGANT BROOCH: made of GOLD (14 ct / 585), having longitudinal-oval form, additionally decorated with small movable rods attached to area below - causing a very decorative effect ! Additionally, the brooch is ornamented with a small emerald attached to middle area, surrrounded by scrolls made in chiselled technique. WEIGHT: 6.0 GRAMS (= 0.21 OZ / 0.19 TROY OUNCE) FINEST GOLDEN COLOUR ! OLD PRAGUE OFFICIAL HALLMARK (= OLD IMPERIAL AUSTRIA...

Antique hardstone cameo set on a 14K yellow gold brooch setting, circa 1870. Inscribed on the back. From the antique fine jewelry collection at Bracken Jewelers in Santa Monica, Cali...

Victorian Seed Pearl and Turquoise Bug crawling up a staff capped with a solitary pearl. Beautifully rendered in 3D with realistic insect anat...

An exceptional mid-Victorian en tremblant brooch, masterfully crafted in silver-topped gold and designed as a flowering spray set throughout with old-cut diamonds and natural saltwat...

Highly unusual handmade Victorian snake stickpin in 14K gold with lovely detailing. A fully formed snake is wrapped around a pear shaped faceted rock cr...

10k yellow gold branch brooch with coral Detailed description the size of the brooch is 3.8 cm by 3.1 cm wide and 1.8 cm high weight 8.9 grams set with - 15 x various sizes flow...

Highly unusual handmade Victorian snake stickpin in 14K gold with lovely detailing. A fully formed snake is wrapped around a pear shaped faceted rock cr...

Antique Archaeological Victorian Etruscan revival pin /brooch with beautiful details . Pin front features exceptional quality of the granulation and filigree wirework with enamel work in between (enamel is in red ,turquoise blue and red color) .Back has a old "C" clasp . Pin is extremely well maid Although not marked /signed it is in the same school of a Castellani style piece....a similar examples can be seen "Castellani and Giuliano...

Victorian Diamond ruby heart brooch in 14K gold and silver. Antique brooch with a central motif of two intertwined hearts, one set with diamonds, the...

14k yellow gold brooch/pendant with coral and onyx – 18.0 grams detailed description: the dimensions of the brooch/pendant are 5.0 cm long by 4.2 cm wide weight 18.0 grams set w...

Here we have a charming brooch taken from the Victorian period. This antique piece showcases an graceful swirling design adorned with a striking deep red ruby at the centre. Surround...

14k gold with 925 silver brooch set with rose cut diamond to. 0.50ct G/HSI Detailed description the brooch is 1.5 cm high and 6.3 cm wide total weight: 7.1 grams occupied with: ...

This beautiful antique Crescent Moon is 1870 ca Glorious Victorian workmanship made of solid 18 KT gold and Silver Set with 15 graduated in size old mine cut Diamonds and tiny rose cut Diamonds to complement, approx 3.10 Ct (H/I-SI/I) – lovely color contrast given by 15 untreated natural, mine cut, Rubies of gorgeous pastel color for 1.80 Ct. 34 mm. In diameter with fine condition throughout keeping with age Victorian Celestial...

This exquisite flower brooch is designed as a flower stalk with a flower in full bloom, two flower buds and leaves. The blooming flower is made out of twenty petals set entirely with...

Wonderful Victorian Snake on naturally formed tooth pearl brooch. Highly unusual, lovely design and quality. Snakes represented the eternity of love...

Large Victorian Enamel and Diamond Pinwheel Stickpin in 14k from the late 19th Century. Originally a brooch but converted to a stickpin later. Fine...

Details: Really cool antique Italian micro mosaic brooch with a Greek mythological phoenix bird. The phoenix rises out of her ashes...

Victorian Persian Turquoise and Seed Pearl Dove from the late 19th Century. Pave turquoises and pearls are used to decorate the dove in fli...