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Mid Victorian

Bar Pin, three lozenges

Sun, 03/08/2009 - 19:05 — curator
Bar pins typically were used to attach a watch or watch chain to the bodice. But sometimes they were simply decorative. This pin does not have a hook on the back for the watch. The pin is dimensional, having been stamped and repouseed into high relief.

Bar Pin, one lozenge

Sun, 03/08/2009 - 19:00 — curator
Bar pins were commonly worn, often to hold the end of a watch chain. This example shows nice gallery wire decoration.

Watch Hook 1

Sat, 03/07/2009 - 18:21 — curator


This Etruscan Revival pin has a hook to attach a woman's watch.

Shell Cameo Brooch, Diana

Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:58 — curator
There are many classical goddesses of the moon, including Selene, Hecate, Diana, Phoebe, etc., Selene is the one typically shown with the crescent moon hair dress. However, Diana is the only one associated with the hunt. As this lady has the moon in her hair and an compound bow behind her shoulder, she is Diana.

This shell cameo is set in silver, the metal of the moon. The clasp is missing.

Shell Cameo Brooch, Seated Woman

Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:40 — curator
The seated woman in this large shell cameo is holding a lamb (or is it a very odd dog?) in her lap and admiring a flower. Perhaps this is intended to be Mary holding Jesus.

The setting is an engraved band of gold that is twisted and has golden leaves applied. The C clasp is typical mid-nineteenth century.

Shell Cameo Brooch, the Three Graces

Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:34 — curator
In Greek mythology, the Graces were goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. The three are Beauty (Aglaea), Mirth (Euphrosyne), and Good Cheer (Thalia). They were the daughters of Zeus and Euynome, and were part of Aphrodite's retinue.

This large brooch is finely-carved shell cameo set in a constructed gold frame.

Shell Cameo Brooch, the Muse Terpsichore

Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:19 — curator
This shell cameo shows the muse of dance, Terpsichore, dancing with her lyre. The frame is 14 K gold tubing and sheet. The solder marks of the constructed frame are apparent on the back.

Ebauche Silver Cylinder Movement with Chipped Enamel Dial

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 17:46 — curator

Open-faced with brass hands.Open-faced with brass hands.
This is a good example of a typical middle-class man's watch from the early 1860's. The movement was made separately from the case, which is especially apparent because the case is made to allow the hands to be set from the front, but the movement sets the hands from the back!

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