Brooches

The snow drizzled from the sky as she made her way through the city. She bundled up in her black pea coat and green scarf, secured together with a beautiful brooch that sat off to the side on her shoulder. It looked stately there, like it belonged. Snowflakes landed on her nose and she tried to wiggle them off, laughing at how ridiculous it felt. She was almost home, close to warmth, but couldn’t help a smile as she saw the white tops of houses and snow-lined windowsills.

This antique Arts & Crafts Kensington Art Ware brooch was handcrafted in England around 1910. It was made in silver and showcases a beautiful blue motif. This round brooch pin measures 41.5 mm in diameter and weighs 12 grams. It bears the mark, “KENSINGTON ART WARE C & L” and has been acid tested.

Would it look better on the left or right lapel? On a man or a woman? On a scarf or on a bag? In the center of a blouse or a sweater? Why not try them all?

We offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

Please note that our photographs are part of our description, please look carefully, we do not digitally alter our items. We always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase, and If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let us know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

During the Victorian Era, there was a structure of meaning placed in flowers called ‘The Language of Flowers’. Irises were no exception, the purple iris symbolized wisdom and admiration, while the blue iris meant hope and faith. The iris itself can be traced back to Ancient Greek mythology. The goddess Iris was the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. She delivered messages from the gods to the mortals below. She traveled along the arc of a rainbow as she moved between the heavens and the earth. “Iris”, in Greek, means “rainbow”. There is another translation, spelled, “eiris”, which means “messenger”.

This antique Arts & Crafts enamel silver brooch was handcrafted around 1910. It’s a carefully made piece featuring a bouquet of irises in a silver rectangular setting. This pin measures 42.3 x 22.7 mm and weighs 7.4 grams. There are no marks and it has been acid tested.

The Ancient Greeks planted purple irises on the graves of women to entice the goddess Iris, who was to lead their loved ones on their journey to heaven. Irises can be found depicted in Ancient Egyptian art. Kings were enthralled with the flower and had them drawn inside their palaces.

We offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

Please note that our photographs are part of our description, please look carefully, we do not digitally alter our items. We always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase, and If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let us know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

Charles Horner was born in England, in 1837. Between his knack for innovative design and his wonderful marketing skills, he founded a thriving business in the 1860s that produced silver jewelry and ornaments, and outlasted two world wars. The business was based in Halifax, England, and was known for its Art Nouveau pendants, necklaces, hatpins, silver thimbles, and knot brooches.

This handsome, antique Edwardian Ruskin Pottery brooch was handcrafted in Chester, England in 1918. It features an oval finished piece of Ruskin pottery done in shades of purple, green and yellow and set in a simple yet beautiful silver mounting. This brooch pin measures 29.5 x 37.9 x 12 mm and it weighs 12 grams. This piece has been fully hallmarked as it bears the mark for Chester, the lion mark for English sterling silver, and the date letter “S” for 1918. It also bears the Charles Horner maker’s mark, “C.H.”

The Charles Horner firm was unique as it was an English company that mass-produced Arts and Crafts jewelry, a type of jewelry that was not normally mass-produced. They were one of few who not only designed their own pieces but also produced each design in-house. They were successful, prolific, and highly skilled.

We offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

Please note that our photographs are part of our description, please look carefully, we do not digitally alter our items. We always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase, and If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let us know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

Sometimes, I wonder if silver was made from moonlight hitting the sand, like how lightning creates cones of glass. It’s mysterious in the way it glints and gleams, even in mere candlelight. I’ve only witnessed nature glow with this much magic a few times; like last summer, on the lake, when the leaves of the trees seemed to light up, but in truth it was green glow of fireflies, dancing in the heat.

This antique Victorian silver love knot brooch was handcrafted in England around 1880. It bears an engraved floral motif and contains a safety chain. This brooch pin measures 46 x 59 x 28.8 mm and weighs 18 grams. It bears no marks and has been acid tested.

This beautiful love knot would have been given as a gift of true affection, and it’s so classic, it’s like the little black dress of accessories!

We offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

Please note that our photographs are part of our description, please look carefully, we do not digitally alter our items. We always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase, and If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let us know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

Two things that I have a weak spot for have found their way into this one fabulous brooch! English Arts & Crafts is one of my favorite time periods in all of Art and Design, it appeals to the fantasy in my soul, and moonstones, especially ones with the kind of blue adularescence that these exhibit, are a panacea to my mind.

This wonderful Arts & Crafts piece was made in England around 1910. It is set with a total of 8.9 carats of glowing, cabochon cut blue moonstones (I know, they don’t look awesome with empty space behind them, but look through the photos to see what magic happens with a jacket or hand behind them). This brooch has had its pin stem replaced at some point in it’s life and someone put on a safety catch, no doubt they didn’t want to loose it! It is marked to the reverse with ‘silver’ and it measures 42 mm from top to bottom and 41.7 mm across, weighs 12.7 grams.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

Hand crafted in about 1920, this dragonfly has domed crystal wings which are set with rich blue, morpho wings. A medium sized beauty, it measures 39.1 mm from top to bottom and 40.1 mm across. This piece is marked to the reverse with ‘Silver’ and ‘England’ and the makers mark of ‘L.T.’. The brooch weighs 6.3 grams.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

When you’ve been buying jewelry for as long as I have, you might find that what excites you most is the unusual! When I came across this bespoke French wedding set, I was excited to my toes.

This set of two contains a hand crafted silver stud plaque (to be worn in a button hole) and a matching silver brooch. The stud features a wolf hound in profile sporting a blue collar and was doubtlessly hand crafted as a special order for it’s original groom and the matching brooch shows the same pup with a pink color, made for the bride.

The two pieces are the same size, they measures 28.6 mm across and 19.6 mm top to bottom, tougher they weigh 17.5 grams. This wonderful set is hallmarked with ‘HR’ and “Bte” (short for ‘brevetè’ or ‘patented’) and also with “SGDG” (which is ‘Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement’ which means that the government was not liable for the working of the piece). This French made set tests as silver and dates to about 1860-70.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations! 

I was an imaginative child and was always enamored with animals of myth, the unicorn, the dragon, the cycles and minotaur. I greedily devoured books and movies like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings; the Neverending Story was one of my favorites along with the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. So, I guess it’s not unusual that I would find myself drawn to jeweled representations of these beasts as a grownup!

This fantastic brooch depicts what is probably an Amphiptere, a type of winged serpent which is often seen in European heraldry; the Amphiptere is a beast with wings but no legs and the body of snake, usually covered in feathers. It could also be a Wyvern, but as it’s leg-less I’m thinking it’s likely an Amphiptere. The beast has a creamy white pearl clutched in its jaws. This wonderful piece measures 19.8 mm north to south and is 61.5 mm long, it weighs 8.5 grams. The brooch is marked on the pin stem and clasp, which is typical for French pieces, it bears the eagles head purity mark for 18 karat gold as well as a French makers mark.

This beautifully detailed brooch is finished front and back, it could easily be converted to a necklace upon request.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

The Royal Order of the Garter was founded in the fourteenth century by King Edward the Third. It was, and still is, the most prestigious order of Chivalry in the United Kingdom, along with the Victoria Cross and George Cross, and is the oldest national order of knighthood in the world. The symbol of the order is the buckled garter.

This fantastic and large Scottish brooch is a wonderful example of the Order. At the center of the brooch is an engraved shield and surrounding it is a large garter with a smooth buckle and elaborately engraved edges. Simple yet stunning, this brooch would be just as lovely on a man as a woman. It is completely unmarked but tests as sterling. The reverse has a ring at the top which probably originally held a safety chain. This impressive brooch measures 61.4 mm from top to bottom and 51.4 mm across, it weighs 29.4 grams. Made in Great Britain in about 1860-70.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations! 

It’s not as old as the pieces that I usually buy, but I couldn’t resist the charm and whimsy of this lovely brooch! Hand crafted in Birmingham, England in 1994, this fully hallmarked, sterling silver brooch depicts a fishing rod and reel with a spotted fish hanging from the chain which represents the fishing line. This brooch measures 81 mm across and 19.5 mm north to south at the widest part. This brooch bears the makers mark ‘B.J.M’ and weighs 7.4 grams.

A Message From Victoria: Hi everyone! If you visit my site often, you might note that I usually have a story to tell about my pieces. Well, I’ve accumulated a backlog of items and I’m too excited to get them to you to stop and write tales. So, I’m going to go with the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words. Don’t worry though, I’ll get back to my usual descriptions soon. Watch this space!

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations! 

This wonderful silver butterfly looks so intriguing that you might almost expect him to fly away!

This lovely butterfly brooch in shades of blue with black, green and red tipped wings was made in about 1935 by John Atkins and Sons. It’s a beautiful brooch of medium size and measures 27.6 mm north to south and 40.1 mm across. The brooch is marked to the reverse with ‘Sterling Silver’, ‘2378’ ad has the kite makers mark with JA&S. This piece weighs 6.9 grams.

A Message From Victoria: Hi everyone! If you visit my site often, you might note that I usually have a story to tell about my pieces. Well, I’ve accumulated a backlog of items and I’m too excited to get them to you to stop and write tales. So, I’m going to go with the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words. Don’t worry though, I’ll get back to my usual descriptions soon. Watch this space!

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations! 

Long before cell phones, before cameras could be carried in a pocket or a purse, photographs were expensive and hard to come by; so people often didn’t have images of their loved ones to keep after that person had passed. Instead, they used a lock of hair, often elaborately woven and put under glass. It gave them a memory, a keepsake, of the person that they had lost.

This brooch was made as a memorial to one such person. It would have been worn during the period of mourning, which lasted for a year and then some. The front of this wonderfully hand crafted pin is done in swirls of gold and black enamel and is set with a virtual bouquet of flowers which are accented in creamy white pearls and one small diamond. This brooch has a frame on the reverse which would originally have held the hair of loved one, but which has been removed at some point in its life. The reverse is inscribed with ‘In Memory Of’ and the initials ‘EHC’. This large piece measures 40.7 mm from north to south and 50.9 mm across and weighs 26.2 grams. We’ve carefully acid tested it as being 15 karat gold.

This wonderful piece of history was made during the Georgian era in England, probably dating to about 1830.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

If you find yourself in the town of Torre del Greco, on the Gulf of Naples, I highly recommend that you make a visit to La Pizzaccia a top priority. Ask for Federico, the chef, although he’ll probably show up before you can, and let him tell you what to order. The menu changes daily according to what’s fresh and it doesn’t really matter what you get because one dish is just as delicious as the next. Then overindulge a bit in their delicious wine and a bit of gelato and stay overnight in this wonderful Napolese town. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and harbor filled with lovely fishing boats and sparkling seas. Keep in mind, though, that in 79 AD it wasn’t so wonderful, when the horrific eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the area under tons and tons of debris. What was a life ending event for the ancient Romans would eventually become a boon for the residents of the 18th and 19th centuries as the residents of Torre del Greco used the lava stone deposited by that massive event to carve intricate and detailed cameos which they sold to the tourist trade, especially those taking the ‘Grande Tour’ of Europe during Victorian times.

This wonderful cameo most likely finds its origins in that place and at that time. It depicts the allegory of ‘Love Conquers All’, which is drawn from Ovid and Virgil and features a winged Cupid who has subdued a lion. The cameo is carved in lava stone of a deep putty color kissed with green and is set into a frame of 18 karat gold with a line of graduated pearls at the bottom. The lava carving itself likely dates to about 1870, but the frame is later, probably 1920s. Overall this brooch measures 35.5 mm north to south and 42.4 mm across and weighs 13.3 grams. The pin stem has a safety clasp for added security and some care should be taken with this piece as lava is a somewhat fragile material. The patination of this piece adds to its beauty and I would not recommend cleaning the face of the brooch at all.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations! 

The Metropolitan Opera house opened with a performance of 'Faust' on October 22, 1883; on Broadway in New York City. The opera house had been formed and built by the likes of the Vanderbilts, the Roosevelts and the Astors as a response to being shut out of the Academy of Music due to their new-money status. On opening night, and every night for years to come, the private boxes at the Met became known as ‘The Diamond Horseshoe’ as the radiance of the stunning diamond jewels of the patrons lit up under the gaslights and the massive chandelier. This diamond starburst brooch would have felt completely at home. Likely it would have been worn as only one of a collection of starburst brooches pinned to a fur or dress. A singular part of the Diamond Horseshoe.

This starburst is one of my personal favorites, it has a touch of a snowflake look to the design. The brooch is handcrafted in 18 karat gold with the diamonds set in silver. The center stone is an Old European Cushion cut diamond that weighs just over a half carat, and the total weight in diamonds, including the additional 56 Old European cut stones, is about 3.25 carats. This fantastic piece is exceptionally sparkly and lively, the diamonds flashing with your every move. The pin stem is a later replacement and is fixed, but the brooch has an enhancer fitting on the back so this piece would be easy to wear as a pendant. It has no hallmarks that I can see, I purchased it in England, and it was likely made there, around 1880-1890. It measures 34 mm north to south and across and weighs 12.9 grams. The star has been appraised by a GIA Master Gemologist and I’m happy to provide a full copy of the appraisal upon request, the insurance replacement value is $12,500 USD.

This stunning and versatile brooch or pendant is ready for it's re-introduction to the world. Maybe you'll take it to the Met? It promises to shine just as brightly under LED light as it did under the gaslights back in the day.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

I don’t feel the need to flood my shop with cameos. I find them fascinating and very beautiful, but I feel like a stunning example or two is all I really need. I have a weakness for a lovely frame and very fine carving and an equal weakness for the motif of Night and Day. The image of these two goddesses brights me joy.

For she is Eos, goddess of the day, she is Aurora, she is Dawn; bringer of light of hope and rejuvenation. She wears roses in her hair and is the Mother of the winds and of the planets. She lifts her head to face the new coming of day and rides on the wings of an eagle.

And she is Nyx, she is the primordial goddess of the night, who emerged at the dawn of creation. She is the mother of Hypnos. She has her eyes closed in peaceful sleep and she wears poppies in her hair as the moon rises over her peaceful profile.

Hand crafted in about 1870, this beautiful Night and Day cameo brooch is set in an intricate 15 karat gold frame. This cameo measures 53.7 mm north to south and 44.2 mm across, it fastens with a C catch and is marked ’15 ct’. The brooch weighs 25.2 grams and has a safety chain.

I offer a 3-5 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

The witches heart was a piece of jewelry that had a purpose. Originally it was used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits, especially during childbirth and nursing. This style of heart had become so popular in Scotland in the 17th century that it was sold from small stalls or locked booths and so is sometimes also called a 'Luckenbooth'. By the time that this double Witches heart was made in the early 19th century, the meaning had changed somewhat and these hearts were often given as tokens of love, to indicated that the wearer had ‘bewitched’ the giver!

This fabulous Georgian Witches heart brooch is set with a rectangular citrine gem in silver. It was hand crafted in England or possibly Scotland around 1820 and has a lively fiery glint and unusual Maltese cross at the top. The citrine is closed backed and has a small hanger at the top, it could be worn as a pendant. This stunning piece is on the larger side, measuring 70 mm north to south and 48.6 mm across, the citrine measures 7.5 x 9.3 mm. The brooch bears no marks but tests as sterling silver and weighs 16.7 grams.

I offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!

When Queen Victoria's Royal Court followed her to Scotland and Barlmoral Castle, the demand for Scottish jewelry in all forms flourished. The witches heart, with a tail that almost always twists to the right, had become a popular and very romantic motif in Scotland in the 17th century. Made to ward off witches and evil spirits, it was sold from small stalls or locked booths and is sometimes also called a 'Luckenbooth'. By the time this wonderful brooch was made during the Victorian era, these brooches were being given as betrothal pieces, often shown with the hearts intertwined, the message was that the receiver had ‘bewitched’ the giver!

This wonderful brooch was hand crafted in about 1880, it is beautifully detailed with blue, white, red and green enamel to the front. This piece is unmarked but tests as sterling silver. It was likely made in England. The brooch measures 40.3 mm north to south and 29.9 mm across and weighs 9.8 grams.

I offer a 3 or 4 payment layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. Items ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.

I always want you to be happy with every aspect of your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason simply let me know and we'll work together to get the item returned for a full refund. I guarantee that my pictures and descriptions are as accurate as possible. My goal is to exceed your best expectations!