{"product_id":"antique-victorian-sterling-silver-anchor-brooch-by-cronin-wheeler-birmingham-1846","title":"Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Anchor Brooch by Cronin \u0026 Wheeler, Birmingham 1846","description":"There are jewels that merely decorate, and then there are jewels that carry entire worlds within them. This magnificent anchor brooch feels as though it came ashore from another century entirely, one of salt air, tall ships, handwritten letters folded into coat pockets, and long departures beneath grey northern skies. The anchor, ancient symbol of steadfastness and safe return, held deep meaning during the Victorian era, especially in the great maritime cultures of Scotland and Britain. Here it is rendered with extraordinary presence, wrapped in twisted ropework and lavishly engraved by hand with swirling ornament that catches the light like moving water.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFully hallmarked in Birmingham in 1846, this substantial brooch was made by Cronin and Wheeler and bears the sterling lion passant, Birmingham anchor town mark, date letter “x” for 1846, and maker’s mark “C.W.Co.” The brooch measures 71.9 millimeters north to south, 46 millimeters across, and stands 7 millimeters from front to back. It weighs an impressive 25.2 grams. The craftsmanship is exceptional throughout, from the richly engraved surface to the dimensional rope detailing draped naturally around the anchor form.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the sort of jewel one imagines pinned to heavy wool on the docks of Glasgow or Edinburgh, perhaps worn by someone waiting for a ship that carried everything she loved aboard it. Even now it possesses an unmistakable gravity and romance, a bold and beautifully symbolic piece from the great age of Victorian silverwork. Few anchor brooches survive with this level of detail, scale, and sculptural beauty intact, and fewer still carry such early hallmarks and such a strong sense of story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI offer free layaway on most items purchased for full retail price, please inquire if you are interested in setting up a layaway. We ship when payment is complete and items purchased or payments made on layaway are eligible for store credit only.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eItem id: BH0925923V","brand":"Victoria Sterling Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48285776969982,"sku":"BH0925923V","price":990.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0468\/8377\/files\/a5a0e1eb-7f59-4896-9fd5-6e2f105d9fb3.jpg?v=1780004287","url":"https:\/\/www.victoriasterlingjewelry.com\/products\/antique-victorian-sterling-silver-anchor-brooch-by-cronin-wheeler-birmingham-1846","provider":"Victoria Sterling","version":"1.0","type":"link"}