Antique 1880s Mid Victorian Grand Period Sterling Silver Mourning Pin Brooch

Description

The Grand period of the Victorian era was marked by highly ornamented and sentimental jewelry. This beautiful brooch from the 1880s rendered from sterling silver is adorned with an intricate target or dome design in a floral motif. This brooch has tons of character and would be a great addition to your collection.

After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victorian went into a period of deep mourning which lasted the rest of her life. The Queen in her grief only wore black for the next 40 years, and until the 1880s most of her court did the same. Black gemstones and jewelry were in demand as well as unadorned pieces in silver following a significant discovery of material in Nevada during 1860. With the onslaught of the American Civil War, mourning jewelry rose in popularity as the casualties increased. Bereaved loved ones desired mementos and jewelry to store a lock of hair or a daguerreotype of their lost family to cope with their loss.

The brooch is in very good to good antique condition with minimal signs of wear. The surface of the silver has fine lines and marks, with a few deeper divots off the dome portion of the piece. The silver has areas of dark patina, especially on the back inside, which has not been polished. The brooch can be polished upon request. The back is stamped Sterling Silver and the hinge, c-clasp, and the pin stem are fully functional. The hinge is slightly loose so you can wiggle the stem side to side and the stem is slightly bent. The glass panel is missing so the brooch cannot store keepsakes in the back.

The brooch measures 1-1/4″ wide and tall. The box is for display only. The brooch weighs 7.5 grams.

I try to show in my photographs an accurate picture of the item, and in the written description. Please take note of the size given in the description, as images can often appear more substantial than the actual object.

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