| The Victorian Era is one of the most remarkable and | | | | Most brooches from the Victorian Era had a "bent pin |
| memorable times in British History. It is the second | | | | system" that kept the brooch from falling off and |
| time, after the Golden Age - otherwise known as the | | | | thus avoiding loss of the item. |
| Elizabethan Era, where a British Queen would be | | | | Purple, which has long been known as a shade |
| accredited and associated with the immense forward | | | | attributed to royalty, was also big in the world of |
| movement of a country. The Victorian Era was ruled | | | | fashion and jewelry during the Victorian Era. This |
| over by the great Queen Victoria who became the | | | | trend is most evident in the style of an enamel |
| last monarch under the House of Hanover (Her heir | | | | pendant that was Edwardian in Style. Made of 14 |
| took on his father's family name). This amazing queen | | | | carat gold, the piece a purple guilloche with a cross |
| ruled over the British Isles for over six centuries and | | | | design was made with such fine craftsmanship. |
| was well loved by her people and her family. This era, | | | | Nowadays, finding enamel Victorian Jewelry in such |
| like the others past it, had its own style and | | | | good condition is very rare and pieces that do |
| elegance. They are particularly known for fashion and | | | | survive are given such a high value. |
| style which was translated and carried over to the | | | | One thing that has captured the fancy of people in |
| style of their jewelry which they considered as | | | | the later part of the Victorian Era was that of |
| priceless heirlooms from times past. There are only a | | | | mythical creatures that can be found in mythology |
| few truly genuine pieces that are found today and | | | | books as well as in the stories that have fascinated |
| even fewer are auctioned off to the public. | | | | nation after nation through the ages. This attraction |
| An example of fine Victorian jewelry is that of a gold | | | | to myth has been effectively translated into different |
| brooch adorned with a beautiful dove. A finely | | | | styles of jewelry including one stickpin of a stylized |
| crafted piece of jewelry made of yellowish gold. The | | | | serpent made in 14 carat gold. The said piece of |
| center of the ornament displays the dove with an | | | | jewelry is believed to be a creation of the Victorian |
| olive branch made of swirling gold clutched in its beak. | | | | Jeweler named B.G. & O. |
| The brooch is styled in a form called 'bulla' which | | | | The style of Victorian jewelry is an effective mirror |
| means 'bubble' in Latin. This type of jewelry is in a | | | | of the style of her people. They were very much |
| circular form that alludes to its name. It became | | | | attuned to the finer details; preferring their jewelry |
| popular in the late part of the 19th century. The | | | | to be encrusted in all sorts of gems and priced south |
| brooch is made of 18 carat gold and circulated around | | | | sea seed pearls. All this detail contrastingly lay in |
| 1880. One of the most important characteristics that | | | | delicately forged and molded gold and enamel. |
| effectively date a brooch is the style of its clasp. | | | | |