Vintage antique gold bar brooch bird holding diamond in beak on ivy branch

Antique jewelry object group
bar brooch

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
unknown

Style
Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
See also: Victorian
more info on styles

Style specifics
The Grand Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) into three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Grand Victorian Period.

This second Victorian period is famous for its ostentatious pieces set with pearls and diamonds (from South Africa). From ca. 1850 wealthy English had reported about jewelry from India and Japan, which heavily inspired the jewelers of this period. This period also corresponds with the death of Queen Victoria's husband King Albert making mourning jewelry (set with heavy dark stones) the type of jewelry specific for this period.

Period
ca. 1880
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Mother Nature

Theme
Ivy - The European ivy is a non-poisonous plant with great symbolism. With its evergreen leaves, it symbolizes immortality. But it also symbolizes death as it kills trees by eating their juices.

But ivy has also a romantic facet: The vitality of the plant represents stealthy joy of living. The romantic facet of ivy is based upon its tendrils which attach to a wall affectionately. In French they say 'Je m'attache ou je meurs' (I hold on or I die)!

At weddings in Greece they used to give an ivy garland for the young couple as a sign of 'everlasting love and fidelity'.

Material
14K tri-color (pink, yellow, white) gold (touchstone tested)
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Diamonds
One old brilliant cut diamond with an estimated weight of ± 0.16ct colour and clarity H/J, vs/si
All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since stones are not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.
All diamonds we offer are screened by the I.J.G.C. for whether they are natural or synthetic, and all diamonds in this jewel are 100% guaranteed to be natural.

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
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Hallmarks
No trace.
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Dimensions
width 5,70 cm (2,24 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
6,40 gram (4,12 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
23054-0120

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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