This 18k yellow gold brooch is shaped like two Egyptian lotus flowers, set with two natural seed pearls and several tiny rose-cut diamonds.
The hallmarks on this brooch tell us an interesting story about its history. It carries the maker's mark for the jeweler Van Arcken & Co, who operated in the Dutch Indies from 1898 onwards. A small boar head hallmark further tells us that the brooch was imported into the Netherlands before 1905.
The Western interest in Ancient Egyptian culture soared in 1798, when Napoleon organized an expedition to Egypt, accompanied by scientists and artists who published drawings and books about the ancient ruins they found. Throughout the 19th Century, art and design based on Ancient Egyptian motifs remained very popular. 'Egyptomania' reached its in 1922, when Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 43 x 18 mm.
Weight: 5.00 grams.
Age: Early 20th Century, also known as the Belle Epoque era, circa 1900.
Material: Hallmarked for 18k gold.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.