This adorable star brooch is made from rose gold and silver, and is studded with vibrant blue paste stones.
Interestingly, the brooch fitting is fastened with a tiny gold screw, which allows you to remove it from the brooch. A lot of Victorian jewels were created so that they could be worn in different ways, so it is likely that it originally screwed onto a bigger piece of jewellery (most likely a necklace, haircomb or tiara) and/or that it has an extra fitting so it could be worn as a pendant.
The Victorians also loved to use symbolism in their jewellery designs. Celestial symbols like the moon, comets and stars were frequently used of the 19th Century. Major celestial events like the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1835 and the Great Comet in 1843, and improvements of telespcopic equipement to study these phenomena sparked widespread public interest in the night sky. Stars were particularly popular to wear because they represented a fixed point of safety, hope, and direction.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 22 mm in diameter.
Weight: 3.25 grams.
Age: 19th Century, also known as the Victorian era, circa 1860s.
Material: Hallmarked for 14k gold and 925/1000 silver.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes. 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.