Antique Victorian 9K Gold Mourning Brooch, Black Enamel & French Hair Art

  
Antique Victorian 9K Gold Mourning Brooch, Black Enamel & French Hair Art. A most impressive antique mourning/sentimental locket front brooch. Crafted in solid 9K gold, including the pin back and clasp the brooch features ornate gold repousse work against a jet black enamel background.

The center of the brooch holds a gold framed raised glass compartment containing plaited hair, in memory of a beloved person long departed. Dating to the early to mid Victorian gothic revival era the brooch has a solid gold back polished to a mirror finish with a very sturdy long pin stem, t-hinge and c-clasp. Despite its considerable age it is in the incredible condition that we can expect to see in fine jewelry of a particularly high quality - it could have been made yesterday! A superb example of desirable English antique mourning jewelry of the "grand period" and highly collectible! Mourning jewelry was popular during the Georgian and Victorian times.

It served as a touchstone to remember loved ones who had passed away before photographs were readily available. Mourning jewelry was predominately black, but not always. As in this piece it was sometimes decorated with the deceased's hair or symbolic adornment such as white enamel for a virgin unmarried woman, pearls for infants or different colors for the different stages of grief. This is a lovely example, tastefully decorated and not too over-embellished. MATERIALS: Solid 9K gold and black enamel.

MEASUREMENTS: 1 1/8 inches wide by 1 inch high. The hair compartment measures 11/16" x 1/2". HALLMARKS: None, acid tests as 9K gold throughout. CONDITION: Very good, no discoloration or wear to the gold. The enamel work shows some loss.

The pin back and hinge are in perfect working order. The hairwork is still well pillowed with no sign of breakage or deterioration. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Mourning Jewelry". The seller is "quetzalpapalottl" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Republic of Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Vietnam, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica.

1. Modified Item: No
2. Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
3. Material: Enamel
4. Era: Victorian
5. Style: Mourning
6. Featured Refinements: Mourning Brooch
7. Metal Purity: 9k
8. Metal: Gold
9. Brand: Unbranded
10. Antique: Yes
11. Jewelry Department: Fine