
The Victorian era (1837-1901) was a time in which symbolism was used often in jewellery designs. Subjects taken from nature were also a very popular theme, with flowers, animals and plants being rendered in a naturalistic fashion, that were worn for their beauty and underlying symbolic meaning.
This brooch is fashioned like a sheat of wheat, with a tiny bow around its stem, studded with tiny rose-cut diamonds. Wheat has been used as a symbol of abundance for millennia: one of the most famous stories in the Bible is how Joseph created storage for wheat in Egypt, to ward off famines.
This particular example is made from 18k yellow gold and studded with numerous rose-cut diamonds in closed, silver settings. Traditionally, this was done because the silver helps out the brilliance of the diamonds, while the gold frame prevents the silver from tarnishing and potentially staining skin or clothing.
The sheat has been placed on a slightly heightened brooch frame, which makes it particularly pretty when worn on a heavier fabric, as I am doing in the accompanying picture. I suspect that it was originally part of a different, larger jewel, maybe a tiara or stomacher, and was converted into a brooch at the beginning of the 20th Century.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 65 x 9 mm.
Weight: 8.89 grams
Age: 19th Century, the Victorian era, circa 1880s.
Material: The brooch carries a French hallmark for 18k gold, the front is made from silver.
Condition: The brooch is in good antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with its age. All diamonds are still present and appear to be original to the piece. There are two small solder marks visible at the back of the brooch, which are not visible when worn.
Please note that this store is based in the EU. Although antiques are exempt from taxes in most countries, buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import duties.