Edwardian Gold Brooch with Natural Seed Pearls, British, c. 1910

Gold jewellery with a rich setting of small seed pearls is typical British jewellery of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At this time, jewellery in warm, shiny yellow gold was fashionable as daytime jewelry. Its rich pearl setting was also a testament to the status of the Empire: pearls flowed into Britain from India, Ceylon and Australia in rich quantities - and the jewellery of the ladies in London showed this wealth and the pride in it. Necklaces and pendants in particular were created using this technique, but also many an elegant brooch, such as this elegant piece. The design combines fashionable influences that had come to Britain from the continent. The details such as the laurel tendrils and flowers come from the repertoire of the so-called "Garland Style", which was inspired by the classicism of Louis XVI. The elegant tendrils that complete the design on the outside are children of French Art Nouveau. In combination with the rich pearl trimming, the French models become something typically British. The design language of the piece suggests that the brooch was created in c. 1910. It is made of 625/000 gold. This is a typically British gold alloy, which was used in many Victorian and Edwardian pieces of jewellery, but only until 1932, after which its use was banned. So this also helps to date the piece of jewellery. We discovered the piece in London.

Estimate:$2,218.11

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