Posted 8 years ago
Peasejean55
(413 items)
I bought this brooch recently, I received it today. I was excited about it (hoping the stones were Diamonds) alas they are paste. All the signs are it is a Georgian brooch with typical hinge, C clasp and very long pin. I tested the gold and it tested more than 14 ct gold but not 18ct gold, so from this I believe the brooch is 15ct gold. The stones are set in silver, with separate settings has you can see from the back. All in all it is a pretty brooch. My question is, do you also think this brooch is Georgian.
Many thanks for looking.
Beautiful paste crescent! Not deceptive at all, they are now very sought after :-)
Georgian era going from 1713 to 1830, I won't say your brooch is Georgian, but rather Victorian around 1860 :-)
There is a hole in bottom (pic 2) to screw a hair pin in it, often with a trembler system, these paste stones glitter furiously!
http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/1998/feb98/0298v1.html
Thanks kyra, the brooch was sold for the 1890s. You say the tiny hole was for a pin which you could use for a hair ornament, I think would have looked lovely. The stones has you say are extremely glittery. Thanks for your help.
See my swallow mounted on this kind of trembler hair pin :-)
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/148396-19th-century-diamond-birdie-swallow-pi
A little about paste jewellery (so much to say!):
http://lisakramervintage.com/victorian-edwardian-art-deco-paste-jewelry/
It is very beautiful!!! Love when the stones are silver set, and as Kyra says paste is very sought after.....and especially "black dot" paste!!!
Crescent is very popular Victorian motif. I'm wondering about the hair pain attachment. I thought the brooch backing would also screw off if it converted. Does it have a thread in hole Jean?
Hi kyra, thanks for your links, they are very interesting.
TassieDevil, thanks for your comment, unfortunately this brooch doesn't have the black dots, so I suspect it is either, Victorian, or Edwardian.
Hi Jewels1900, there is a thread in the hole. You say the brooch backing should screw off, I've tried it and it doesn't, I'm probably doing it wrong.
Hi Jean, from the photos, it doesn't look like the pin screws off but I'd usually expect it to if it converted. As far as I can recall (& it's been a while since I looked at any jewels like this) all the ones I've seen, the pins did screw off.
With this one in particularly, if it did convert to a hair piece, you'd see the pin and it wouldn't look right. But clearly something screwed in there and a hair piece would be the most logical option.
Not all versatile jewellery have the brooch system unscrewing... something less to be lost!
Hi Jean, Lovely brooch. I would agree with Victorian.
I have a Victorian crescent moonstone and diamond brooch that converts to a hair ornament. Here are some photos:
brooch and hair pin:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/fine/Victorian%20moonstone%20pin%20w%20hair%20clip.jpg
side view showing screw attachment. the pin mechanism comes off:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/fine/Victorian%20moonstone%20pin_mechanism2.jpg
back view showing screw:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/fine/Victorian%20moonstone%20pin_mechanism3.jpg
Here is a necklace where the centerpiece detaches and can be screwed onto a hair pin:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/fine/French%20diamond%20necklace_front.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/fine/French%20diamond%20necklace_back.jpg
Bluboi, thank you for your documentation!
Hi bluboi, thanks for your links, very informative, I appreciate your help.
Are the pinched silver mounts actually holding the paste stones or do the stones sit on top?
Hi davyd, yes they are holding the paste stones.
This kind of setting is in the manner of Georgian jewellery, but the clue for Victorian is the open back (Georgians were closed back with foil!).
:-)
Thanks kyra, I'm now putting this brooch as solved :-)
Many thanks
brunswick
kyra
Scott
aura
Efesgirl
Caperkid
martika
vetraio
mikelv
racer
TassieDevil
mrcolorz
Vintage forever
avua
kiwipaul
Bluboi
Newtimes
Celiene
Midnight
valentino
davyd
SEAN
Many thanks
Trey