Jewelled Romance: The Legacy of a Victorian Miniature

This enchanting Victorian brooch from 1850, likely of Belgian origin, is a masterpiece of the Romantic Victorian Period. Its intricate design in 18K red gold and silver features 73 rose cut diamonds forming an asymmetrical garland. At its heart lies a hand-painted enameled miniature, tenderly depicting a barefoot woman in the grass, gently petting a dog on her lap. This jewel, a symbol of innocent joy, showcases the era's fascination with sentimental and romantic motifs, blending fine craftsmanship with evocative imagery, making it a truly unique and poignant piece.

The graceful asymmetrical garland with 73 rose cut diamonds encrusted in the silver top of this 18K red gold Victorian brooch from 1850 frames a delicate hand-painted enameled miniature depicting a woman sitting barefoot in the grass petting a dog on her lap. This jewel is a gift of reminiscence to innocent joy.

Antique jewelry object group: brooch

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: Victorian or more info on styles

Style specifics: The Romantic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837-1901) in to three peiods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 – 1901).

We consider this to be of the Romantic Victorian Period. This period covers the coronation of Victoria as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and her marriage to King Albert and their love, their devotion to their marriage and to their country are the sources of inspiration for this period. The jewels of this period are made of intricate carvings, special techniques where the enamel is subtly worked. These techniques allowed to give the jewel a certain opulence with less precious metal needed. As precious metals were really rare at that time. Highly favored (semi-) precious stones in this period are amethyst, coral, garnets, seed pearls and turquoises. The connotation is obviously sentimental, symbolic and romantic with reminiscent Gotic and/or Renaissance patterns and an abundant use of motifs like anchors, birds, branches, crosses, hearts and snakes.

Period: ca. 1850
  -  (events and facts in 1850)

Theme: Girl sitting barefoot in the grass with a dog on her lap

Material: Silver on top and backed with 18K red gold (see explanation on silver on gold).
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Technique: Enamelling is an old and widely-adopted technology. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to pottery and stone objects. The ancient Greeks, Celts, Russians, and Chinese also used enameling processes on metal objects. Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic. According to some sources, the word enamel comes from the High German word smelzan (to smelt) via the Old French esmail. Used as a noun, "an enamel" is a usually small decorative object, coated with enamel coating, such as a champlevé or a cloisonné (different techniques).

Diamonds: 73 rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: height 3.85 cm (1.52 inch) x width 2.86 cm (1.13 inch)

Weight: 10.20 gram (6.56 dwt)

Reference Nº: 12109-0008

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
jewelry with dogs, jewelry with animals, all floral jewelry, jewelry with human motifs, jewelry with enamel, painted,, silver on gold jewelry, jewelry with rose cut diamonds, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
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August - September - October - November or December.


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