Also called Romantic period jewelry, antique early Victorian jewelry and watches were a celebration of the young monarch’s love.
When Prince Albert became engaged to Queen Victoria, he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes, her birthstone. While this may seem a bit simple for our contemporary tastes, the serpent symbolizes eternity, and has become a popular motif in jewelry. The tail in the serpent’s mouth forms an unbroken circle. This dewy-eyed happiness trickled down to the masses and men and women favored jewelry that was sentimental and full of symbolism. Today, antique Victorian jewelry is very coveted and highly collectible.
Romantic period jewelry tends to be feminine and ornate. Flowers, hearts, birds, and bows were just some of the common decorative motifs. These pieces were embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise. It was common to express your devotion with jewelry — REGARD and DEAREST rings were particularly popular. These rings were set with stones that corresponded to each letter: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond.
Most often, the design of the ring was simple, with the stones going across the shank of the ring in a line, but it was not uncommon to see a REGARD ring in a flower formation, with each stone set in the petal of the flower.
Another common early Victorian ring style was two hands clasping a flower or stone. They came in many styles and were made of coral and ivory but also of gold with precious and semiprecious gemstones. These rings, while not exclusively Victorian, are often associated with the time period and symbolized friendship. Lockets enclosed with hair, cameos depicting cupid or a loved one’s face and enamel pieces were also popular.
The early Victorian period corresponded with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Jewelry, no longer made only by hand, became more affordable during the 19th century. The growing middle class also helped increase the demand for it. This was reflected in how women styled their jewelry; they were not afraid to adorn themselves from head to toe with stacking and layering in between. Considering the time period (this was before the California Gold Rush), a lot of pieces in the Romantic period were made using low-karat gold or were gold-plated. Fine gold wire was also employed frequently to add to the design. This is a nice trick to know when determining the date of Victorian jewelry.
Find a range of antique Romantic period brooches, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Tiffany & Co. Coffee/Tea Set Antique Victorian Regency Engraved Sterling
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Fabulous Regency Sterling Silver Coffee or Tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises 3 pieces: coffeepot/teapot, creamer, sugar. In the celebrated pattern t...
Sterling Silver
$13,200Sale Price / set|30% Off
James Charles Edington Silver Set, Circa 1840
Located in Princeton, NJ
Coffee, tea, sugar, and cream set featuring gilded interior with ivory fitting, ornate foliate design including an eagle on the lid and an additional Harlequin patterned design. Engr...
Silver, Gilt Metal
George II Sterling Silver Coffee Pot Likely by William Skeen
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A fine George II sterling silver coffee pot with a wooden handle, floral repousse details and a crest with rubbed maker's mark likely for William Skeen. The coffee pot is very much i...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$395
H 0.38 in W 1.37 in L 3.15 in
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Figural Shell Tea Caddy Spoon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed silver tea caddy spoon. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. With a scalloped shell bowl and a wide tab handle. Fully marked to the reverse. Simply a wonderful Tiffany tea caddy...
Sterling Silver
Six-Piece Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Kettle on Cradle W Serving Tray 7.3 Kg
Located in New York, NY
Very Exclusive A Tiffany & Co maker's sterling silver tea set, complete with serving tray. Six Piece Tiffany & Co. Makers Sterling Silver Complete Tea Set Each piece is sign...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver 5 Piece Tea Service in Pattern 80
By Georg Jensen
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A five-piece tea and coffee service in sterling silver with ebony handles and finials in Georg Jensen's pattern 80, designed in 1915, hallmarked for a post-1945 manufacture. While Jensen's reverence for traditional Danish design and interest in themes of nature were often married in equal part to the popular Art...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$792Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.75 in L 4 in
Antique Norwegian Silver Cloisonné Enamel Demitasse Cup & Saucer Set
Located in New York, NY
A rare and exquisite find for collectors of fine European silver and decorative arts, this Antique Norwegian Silver and Cloisonné Enamel Demit...
Silver, Enamel
Lapis Lazuli Silver Plated Spoon Set of Six by Marina J.
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing One of a Kind Spoon Set by Marina J. Each spoon in this set of 6 is composed of clean and graceful lines giving this elegant set a modern flare. The lapis lazuli beads attach...
Lapis Lazuli, Silver Plate
$240Sale Price|20% Off
L 3.75 in
Marina J 6 Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver Tea Spoon Set with Lapis Lazuli Stones
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of 6 rhodium-plated sterling silver teaspoons with lapis lazuli stones are elegant, with spiral handles. These vintage spoons were re-imagined ...
Lapis Lazuli, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
$2,950Sale Price|39% Off
Archibald Knox Liberty Tudric Pewter Tea Set and Tray, circa 1905
Located in Toronto, ON
Archibald Knox Liberty Tudric pewter Tea set and Tray, C.1905.Teapot, cream jug, sugar and tray, each with relief whiplash curved celtic ornament interl...
Moiseikin Silver Giraffe Spoon Gift for Baby and Children
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Giraffe spoon of the MOISEIKIN® is made of 925 sterling silver with indium, rhodium and careful gilding. Adding indium preserves the glossy look and its durability and a thin layer of metal from the platinum group - rhodium makes the spoon more shiny. The handle of the spoon is stylised as the shape of an animal’s neck, decorated with a pattern imitating its spotted golden-silver skin and decorated with a silver head of a giraffe. The tradition of giving a child a silver spoon for the appearance of the first milk tooth has long lived in Russia and other countries. It was considered "investment in a child's future." A spoon is given as a sign that it’s time for the baby to move from mother’s milk to another meal. Usually teeth come out by 6 months, which coincides with the time of the beginning of feeding. The spoon “Giraffe” will help feed the baby a new meal for him. Thanks to the healing properties of silver, the spoon will have an antibacterial effect. “Grow big and tall...
Gold Plate, Silver
Russian Silver Plate Samovar with Tray Set
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
- The set is made out of silver plate with celluloid/ bone details - The samovar features floral & geometric motifs - The tray stamped with makers marks that are a little worn off (З...
Silver Plate
Imperial Russian Silver & Cloisonné Enamel Tea or Kvosh Spoon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine antique Russian tea or kvosh spoon. Additional Details: Possibly by Alexsander Krivovichev. (The maker's mark is partly obliterated). With polychrome cloisonné enamel d...
Silver, Enamel
Antique Georgian English Sheffield Silver Plate Tea Caddy
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, period Sheffield Plate tea caddy. With simple streamlined lines of the early 19th century, a shield cartouche, and a ball finial. Simply a wonderful antique Georgian tea caddy...
Silver Plate
Antique American Samuel Kirk & Son Co. Repoussé Sterling Tea and Coffee Service
Located in Baltimore, MD
Antique American Samuel Kirk & Son Co. Sterling Repoussé Tea & Coffee Service 6 Piece Set. Scenic landscape pattern of castles, ram heads, deer, other anim...
Sterling Silver