This 18k yellow gold brooch is shaped like a sword that is piercing a poor little bug. Its body glimmers with two labradorite wings, and is studded with rose-cut diamonds and tiny ruby cabochons in its eyes. The sword is topped by a natural seed pearl.
Novelty brooches shaped like insects were very popular in the second half of the 19th Century, with pierced insects, which appear to have been pinned down being a quirky subgenre. These brooches are a reference to the rise of entomology as a hobby, where insects would be collected and pinned on large boards by enthusiastic amateur entomologists.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 51 x 28 mm.
Weight: 5.90 grams.
Age: Mid 19th-century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1870s.
Material: Hallmarked with a French eagle head hallmark for 18k gold.
Condition: In antique condition with signs of alterations. This little critter originally had six legs and two antennae, which were removed over time, likely because they kept snagging in fabric and getting damaged. Besides these changes, the brooch is in great condition.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only. This shop is based in the EU. Although antiques are exempt from taxes in most countries, buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import taxes.