This pansy flower is cut from one piece of precious opal, which is set with an old mine-cut diamond in its center. The colour of the opal mimics the real colour of some pansies: it has a greyish-purple hue, with some iridescent flashes of blue when you turn it into the light.
Flowers were often used for their symbolic properties in the 19th Century, with books such as 'The Language and Poetry of Flowers', which was published in 1851, explaining the specific meaning of each variety.
Pansy flowers were one of the most popular flowers depicted in jewellery and were often gifted between lovers, since the French name for the tiny flower, pensée, also means 'to remember'. Therefore, gifting a little pansy was a request to be kept in once thoughts, and wearing it was a lasting symbol of their affection.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 24 mm long: 17 x 13 excluding the jump ring.
Weight: 1.55 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1860s.
Hallmarks: The mounting was acid-tested as being 14k gold.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with its age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes.