Antique Arrow Brooch with Coronet Made of Natural Pearls & Gemstones, c. 1890

This brooch from the last years of the 19th century is in the form of a crown made of natural pearls, rubies and a small emerald in high-carat gold. Nine large pearls adorn the prongs of the crown, thus assigning it to the rank of an earl. And yet there is something unusual here: A large, gleaming arrow with a golden tip seems to pierce the crown, as if the god of love Cupid himself had hit his target. Perhaps it was a gift to a countess who announced her conquest with a wink? The small arrow through the crown could tell the story of a love affair, a coded symbol that does not immediately reveal its meaning but remains unmistakable. The splendid colors, the fine workmanship and the luxurious materials suggest that the piece was created around 1890. We discovered it in the south of England. A similar but smaller piece can also be found in the literature in Walter Grasser and Franz Hemmerle: Kostbare Krawattennadeln, Munich 1999, p. 41.

Estimate:$2,010.09

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