1870s Jewelry

A pair of antique earrings with delicate three-tier bodies decorated with seed pearls and engraved ornamentats. Freely suspended drop-shaped dangles make this design complete. Sw...

Highly unusual handmade Victorian snake stickpin in 14K gold with lovely detailing. A fully formed snake is wrapped around a pear shaped faceted rock cr...

This elegant and onyx locket is decorated with an amethyst mounted in a finely engraved silver setting.

Comprised of domed surmounts suspending spiculum shaped drops Decorated with grooved form and engraved with scrolling foliates Featuring round cut tourmalines bezel set in surmount a...

Finished catenary pendant with greek decorations on both sides. Five of them hang from this pendants, each composed of a Briolette cut diamond. From both sides of the greeks emerge t...

A pair of earrings in fine repoussé work set with rubies and emeralds. The earrings are decorated with scroll motives, leaf and feather ornaments. The earrings are beautifully engrav...

This unusual bangle has been decorated with a finely carved Victoran shell cameo of Mars. The cameo has been mounted on a bakelite bangle in 1920 ca.

Victorian Rose-Cut Diamond Drop Earrings, circa 1870s A beautiful pair of antique Victorian earrings crafted in 9K gold, adorned with rose-cut diamonds that radiate old-world charm. ...

Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Mourning Hair Band Ring. This amazing mourning ring still has the hair intact and is not engraved with any initials! It is very rare to co...

A Victorian suite of jewellery, comprising a brooch and a pair of earrings, each set with a seed pearl, with enamel detailing, in 18 karat yellow gold, with 9 karat yellow gold fitti...

Charming and Unusual Victorian Enamel and Diamond Handkerchief Brooch from the 19th Century in original box. 18k gold novelty brooch with enamel and rose diamond accents within initi...

Antique early imperial russian era brooch in crescent designe decorted with rose cut diamonds brooch was made in st petersburg 1880s hall marked 56 imperial russian gold standard for...

Antique shell cameo brooch and earrings by John Brogden, English, circa 1870. A yellow gold suite of jewellery, the brooch composed of a horizontally situated oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo of the Greek goddess Selene riding a serpentine dragon in a rubover collet setting, encircled by a conforming frame of gold beading and twisted gold wire punctuated with four gold palmette form plaques engraved and decorated with dark blue enamel and placed at the cardinal points, the reverse mounted with a hinged pin and scroll clasp, the earrings each composed of a vertical oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo engraved with a bust length portrait of Selene with crescent-set headdress, encircled by a conforming frame matching that of the brooch with the addition of a pendant decoration composed of a horizontal bar of gold beading and twisted gold wires suspending gold link chains graduated from centre and ending in conical gold elements, the reverses mounted with French wire fittings, all in a fitted red leather case, the interior marked ‘FIRST CLASS PARIS MEDAL/ 1855.1867.1851/ PARIS FIRST CLASS & LONDON PRIZE MEDALS/ JOHN BROGDON/ Goldsmith/ MANUFACTORY/ 16, Henrietta St. Covent Garden/ London’. The cameo—defined as a gem, usually either a mineral or a shell, upon which a design has been carved in relief—is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Greece, during the third century BC. These miniature sculptures, at that time confined to the medium of hardstone, are thought to have been made with the primary purpose of personal adornment. The same practice of mounting cameos in jewellery was then continued by the Ancient Romans, and they are known to have been worn by many a Roman emperor. After the fall of Rome the fashion for cameos went into a decline, until it was again revived during the Renaissance period, brought about by a keen interest in the ancient world. At this time both antique and contemporary cameos were mounted in jewellery, as well as collected as objet d’art. The art of cameo cutting was revived in Italy, where it would remain a centre for the coming centuries. Again there was a lull in interest in carved gemstones, until the Neoclassical revival of the eighteenth century, largely stimulated by the discoveries of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. As with the Renaissance, antique specimens were generally prized over modern cameos, and the worldliest men in Europe held them among their collections of art and antiques. That said, carving centres in Rome and Torre del Greco (near Naples) in Italy were established in response to the demand of the Grand Tourists, who travelled to Italy and Greece to become educated in the wonders of the ancient world. It was at this time that shell cameos, mostly made in Torre del Greco due to its proximity to the sea, became more popular, owing to the relative ease in carving shell over hardstone. In addition to Rome, hardstone cameos also became a specialty of Idar Oberstein, Germany, which had a long history with both the gem mining and cutting trade. In a shift away from the collector’s cases of the previous century, the nineteenth century saw a strengthening in the fashion for wearable cameos. After the Empress Josephine donned a cameo-set suite of jewellery at the coronation of Napoleon in 1804, cameo jewellery became all the rage. Napoleon played a further hand in promoting the art by establishing a gemstone carving school in Paris, inspired by his appreciation for the arts of the ancient world. By the mid-nineteenth century shell cameos, in part due to their lightness compared with hardstone cameos, were the height of fashion. Large shell cameos as well as hardstone cameos were set into contemporary mounts, often as suites of jewellery. Some of the best cameos of the nineteenth century—carved by a select group of recognized carvers—were set into revivalist mounts, corresponding to the subject matter. In Victorian England cameo jewellery was particularly prized, due in part to the fact that the Queen owned and wore a number of cameo jewels. One example which can often be seen in official portraits is the Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert, carved by Tommaso Saulini of Rome, who also produced cameos for the maker of the present suite, John Brogden. To meet demand some carvers set themselves up in London, including William Schmidt, a German carver from Idar Oberstein, who produced cameos for top London jewellers, including Brogden, Carlo Giuliano and Child & Child. In fact, Schmidt purports to have been the first to carve cameos out of opal, which Brogden reportedly displayed in the Paris Exhibition of 1878. An extant example, now in the collection of the British Museum, was set by the Giuliano firm. Regarding subject matter, cameos throughout time have been largely figural, from bust length profile portraits to scenes with multiple full-length figures, and sometimes animals. Ancient Greek and Roman cameos often depicted mythological scenes as well as contemporary figures. During the Renaissance, mythological scenes were popular, often taken directly from ancient sculpture, as well as portraits of notable contemporary figures. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, due to the revivalist styles, both Renaissance and Classical subjects were copied and set into matching (and sometimes unmatching) revivalist mounts. From the Renaissance through the Victorian era, being able to recognize the source of the carving in a cameo was a mark of erudition, revealing in the wearer knowledge of Classical art. As mentioned, the present cameo parure...

Lovely Victorian Coral Cat Stickpin from the 19th Century. A finely carved 3D cat's head is set on a gold round with black enamel detailing to look like a ruff or collar. Superb qua...

A Victorian Holbeinesque garnet and chrysoberyl pendant, to the centre an oval cabochon garnet measuring 14 x 11mm, surrounded by polychr...

Circa 1870s, 18k. This chic lock bracelet is the perfect antique accessory. Beautiful from every angle, its lock motif decoration is also the clasp...

An antique Victorian period gold, rock crystal, and multi-gemstone festoon necklace comprising swags of gold snake chain suspending carved rock crystal pendants set with ruby, emeral...

Unusual Victorian Bangle, possibly with a Native American profile depected from the mid to late 19th Century. The profile and arrow motifs are textur...

Designed as an half loop two rows cluster ring, the claw set old cut diamonds weighing approximately 3.60 cts, to a carved gallery and trifurcated plain hoop. Mounted in silver and ...

Dropped From Sky Victorians were brimming with Symbolism, from clothes to tapestry, jewellery was no exception, Crescent moons symbolize the feminine moon goddess associated with fem...

An unique Victorian example, 1870 ca Very beautiful, fashioned upon three rare Natural not Nucleated Salt Sea Pearls, the trio inspired the whole unique design 1.0 Full carat of old ...

Antique 14k yellow gold russian cuff braclete in horse shoe designe in detaled workmanship with a total 14k gold weight of 22 grams braclete was made in st...

Colombian emerald and diamond coronet cluster ring. Set to centre with an octagonal emerald-cut natural Colombian emerald with insignificant oil in an open back cut-down setting with...

This charming locket was made in 1870 ca. It is made entirely out of bisque porcelain, The eyelet os made out of silver plated brass, the locket fitting is made out of glass. The loc...

Circa 1870 The necklace is designed as a heart locket pendant surmounted by a ribbon bow. Both are finely crafted in silver topped 14K gold (front – silver / back – gold). The 14K w...

A Victorian 14k rose gold rose-cut diamond spider pin, set with a single rectangular shape emerald and natural pearl abdomen. Circa 1860. The spider's legs are set with 74 rose-cut...

These delightful earrings designed as grapes in heart shape hanging from vine. The vine leaves, cut out of engraved and embossed gold have been handcrafted in Italy in the 1870's.

This unusual necklace was created in 1975 ca. It features two round discs suspended from gold chains attached to a grooved barrel clasp. Each disk is decorated with twisted gold wire ornaments, gold balls and a star with five points...

Designed as a floral radial burst comprised of sterling silver-topped yellow gold Centering a 5.5 mm round pearl - white with strong iridescence and luster Featuring a halo surround ...

A Victorian citrine and gold brooch, with a large oval mixed cut citrine, with an estimated weight of 182 carats, with a three dimensional surround of entwined fern leaves, mounted i...

This unusual hair comb is made out of gilt metal and features a buckle motif. It is decorated with a ball and a cone suspended from fine snake link chains.

French Etruscan revival suite Beautiful three-dimensional pieces, created in Paris France during the Victorian era (1837-1901) back in the 1880, This very versatile suite has been c...

Comprised of 1.5 mm cable link chain Featuring twenty pearl bead stations Ranging in size from 3.0 to 5.0 mm White with moderate iridescence Completed by large antique fob-style lo...

Lovely, high quality Victorian Seed Pearl Earrings with rose diamond accents. Heavy 14k gold quality construction with pierced star form ...

A Victorian Holbeinesque garnet, chyrsoberyl, gold and champlevé enamel pendant, to the centre with a cabochon garnet embellished with tw...

Victorian French Jet pendant necklace of oval jet links with a 3 dimensional pendant of hexagonal cut jet stones. Incredibly modern in design. France 1870'...

Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this lovely solid silver Meiji period circa 1870 dragon embossed cigarette case with gold gilt internals If y...

You don't have to be Parisian to love Frenchies or from Boston to love Boston Bull Terriers.The enamel on this canine stickpin is as good as it gets and is the reason I bought the pu...

Marc Jacobs Asymmetric Link Drop Earrings Gold asymmetric earrings featuring triple link drop with textured gold in a round gold frame to the centre to one side. The other side is ...

Egyptian Revival micro-mosaic ear pendants. A matching pair, each issuing from a roundel with fine ropework borders containing a raised micro-mosaic plaque depicting a heron against ...

A Victorian diamond, emerald and pearl caduceus brooch, the staff set with ten faceted emeralds estimated to weigh a total of 0.8 carats mounted in 18c...

Circa 1860 - 1890 10k - 12k Yellow Gold Intaglio Fob, measuring 1 1/8 X 1 1/8 inches, the front of the Dark Reddish Carved Carnelian stone features a cl...

Satsuma graduated button fob from the late 19th Century. 1870's Japan. Excellent condition. 6" x 1.25"

The central plaque decorated with a polychrome enamel female deity gazing the dove on the pearl paviment. Under the scene we can find a snake. Width 4.5cm

A stunning antique Victorian pearl and 18 karat yellow gold bracelet set / necklace; part of our collection of antique pearl jewelry. These stunning, fine and impressive Victorian b...

Rare Victoriana This superb Victorian period ring is 1870/80 ca Hand crafted of solid 18 Kt gold, marked Bearing beautiful engraving details and unique setting Set in the trilogy man...

This charming little scarf clip has been created in the Japanese taste popular in 1875 ca. The front of the scarf clip is decorated with animals and flowers in relief. Three differen...

This is a lovely and rare Italian ring of Pulcinella in profile with a diamond eye, made out of three colour 10 karat gold. US size 7

These very chic double strand pearls are a fine creamy rose luster and are approximately 7 mm and have 188 pearls joined by two 18k yellow gold clasps set with lapis and 6 round cut ...

This crossbar is designed as a stylized bone and made out of 15 karat gold. It is decorated with twisted gold wire applications around the edges and to either side of the rotating ri...

Baume. A Rare 18ct Yellow Gold Cabriolet Keywind Cylinder Pocket Watch C1870. Dial: The white enamel dial with Roman numerals outer minute track signed Baume Geneve. The subsidiary...

This gorgeous garnet brooch comes from the 1870s Victorian era. The brooch is made to resemble a flower, and features both round and rose cut garnets to achieve this look look. The b...

Designed as a radial starburst motif comprised of gold bar and crescent forms Centering a prong set old mine cut diamond weighing approximately 0.20 carat Eye clean and bright - with...

A pair of antique Victorian period gold earrings of girandole design comprised of three ball pendants suspended from a scrolled openwork surmount, in 14k.

Exquisite and rare, this Victorian jewelry set features finely detailed hand-painted Swiss enamel miniatures, each framed in 18k gold. Such wor...

A Victorian garnet and yellow gold necklace, comprising ten oval cut garnets, and thirty-seven round cut garnets, set in yellow gold, with yellow gold fittings. This tasteful neckl...

A Victorian Holbeinesque pendant, set to the centre with an oval cabochon-cut garnet measuring 18mm x 13mm, surrounded by six old brilliant-cut diamonds, set within yellow gold squar...

Period: 19th century. Weight: 52.8 gr. Diameter: 6 cm. The oval agate cameo depicits a young lady's profile, with fine detailing to the flowing hair, jewelry and Empire style dress...

Circa 1870s, 22k. This classic signet ring is set with a fine intaglio-cut carnelian decorated with an elegant figure. Meticulously made in a 22k yellow gold mounting featuring orna...

In very good condition. Total weight is 11.3 grams. Totally is diamond about 1.75 ct. Totally is ruby 0.08 ct. Acid tested to be 9k real gold. Please contact for any questions.