Posted 10 years ago
JoyB
(33 items)
This is a cute little sterling silver brooch that was given to my mom in law (born 1926) by her aunt (her mom's sister) along with a hand written note saying it was "good" jewelry, but did not give a date. I got the impression it has been in my mom in law's family for at least 150 years. I actually found it after she passed away in a box marked "Joy"(me). It is sterling and with a cameo type figure on it and seems to have a crude type of maker's mark which is impossible to get in the picture. It is an R or P. It has tiny pearls set in silver around the cameo, as well as each end of the bar. I do know it came from Scotland!
Can someone tell me whether it is Georgian or Victorian. I would really like....if anyone knows of one....a website that has good references to this type of jewelry. I am trying to research some other cameo jewelry also :)
Thanks so much for the love vetraio50
Thanks so much for the love aghcollect!
Hi Joy! Don't search for cameo for this one! A cameo, strictly speaking, is a carved in relief image, from sea shell or hard stone.
Your brooch is stamped silver enameled portrait.
Can't find a similar image to show for the moment...
End of Victorian era, not Georgian.
Precious family heirloom!
:-)
Thank you so much kyratango! Thank you for the tip! It is so hard for me to find websites to research vintage items from outside the U.S. I will try to Google "stamped silver enameled portrait"
Thanks so much for the loves kyratango, inky, & katherinescollections!
Thanks so much for the love Virginia.vintage!
Thanks so much for the love Moonstonelover21!
Such a great design. Even without the enamel portrait (she's lovely too) I really like the way the pearls have been placed and set and the twists in the bar.
Lovely piece!
I was searching google kyratango and found something from Agram.m on CW. Maybe she will be able to help date it, is there a way to message a member?
You can leave her a comment with a link to your post on one of her post :-)
Oh thank you kyratango! Great idea!
Indeed there are similarities. Unfortunately I cannot date but I think indeed Georgian or early Victorian. And I suppose not Scotland but France as mine.
Very Beautiful indeed!
JoyB, I should have thought the period clothing would help you identify the exact era. Perhaps if you were to ask on a forum where they specialize in antique clothing, they could tell you. :)
The c-clasp is the earliest type of catch but it can sometimes be found on "newer" jewelry. De design of the brooch let me think of Art Deco so after all I must conclude that dating is very difficult.
Thank you so much for your help katherinescollections and Agram.m. Other than the note found in the box I am lost. I know it belonged to my mother in law's Aunt Kate born around late 1800's, but no later than 1902. I just assumed it was Scottish because that is where the family lived. I will try to find a forum and research some of the clothing and see if I can get some more information. I know it was special to my mom in law and am just so curious :) Thank you both so much for the help! Thanks so much for the love Agram.m!
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment & love racer4four!
Don't think the clothing will help... Victorians loved historical representations and the portrait looks like a fantasy 16th mediterranean peasant outfit. But This is only in my opinion ;-)
Wow, I've never even heard of that. I may just have to say "it is what it is" and maybe someday if I have a daughter-in-law (that I like) she can research it lol. In the meantime, I will cherish it as a family heirloom :) Thank you so much for helping!
Good catch, kyratango! JoyB, I guess you have your Antiques Roadshow item with this one. :)
Thanks so much katherinescollections! I just think it is beautiful! Scared to wear it so I will wrap it and in the jewelry box it goes with a few new notes :)
Thanks so much for the love mikelv85!
I sent pictures of this in to Lang Antiques & Antique Jewelry University, a website I found during a Google search. Here is her response:
"It does look to be from the Victorian time period due to the C catch on the back, but getting a more specific date will be very challenging. The little pearls are called seed pearls."