My Little Victorian Pins

Back when I bought and sold a lot of vintage jewelry, I would often find little pieces of Victorian gold-filled jewelry in boxlots, or among clearance other dealers would save up and sell to me, when I came by to see them at the market.

I was always so intrigued by those pieces.....and since I didn't have a lot of money into them, I started saving a few, here and there.

Here is one that is extremely special:

This piece is a real treasure.   Some folks like to collect 'Mizpah' jewelry, which has a sentimental verse from the Bible on it.   Actually the words were uttered by Laban, the father in law of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham....when he was about to go his own way with his two daughters, Rachel and Leah, now Jacob's wives.

When you examine the account found at Genesis 31:48-53 the words take on a little different meaning, LOL   But the sentiment here expressed in jewelry is sweet indeed.  This is  an old-fashioned form of friendship jewelry.

It really is one of my favorite Victorian pieces!

Then we have this bar pin:

It has a little bit of damage to the top, but there is some sort of fantasy bird engraved into it and a lot of pretty imagery.    This is what the back looks like:

There is a patent number and everything....and I believe it says June 5, 1877?  Wow.   There's some damage to it as you can see....but take note of the clasp finding.   If you are learning about old jewelry, clasps are sometimes great 'tellers of time', you can really begin dating a piece, many times, by the sort of clasp that's on it.

The little bar brooch below is a piece of Scotch agate jewelry and again, is from the Victorian era...possibly something carried over from the 'old country' by an immigrant, or maybe a piece carried home from a tour.

The piece at the bottom has  taille d'Epargne... enamelling, which is found often in mid to late period Victorian jewelry.   Read more about it here:

http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Taille_d%27Epargn%C3%A9   Be sure to check the link, there are some great pix.  Once you study this over just a bit, you'll get it in your head and be able to easily spot it in the future!

Here are all my faves:

This picture shows the back of the agate barpin, too. The metal is probably low gold, but I never had it tested.

Here is damage to the back of the other barpin in the photo:

That's a pretty nasty solder repair but I wanted you to see the clasp...it's a type of "C" clasp, and again, is typical in Victorian jewelry.   Another thing to keep in mind!

You might also have noticed how the pinstem sticks out beyond the pin....another time teller!  That's not a defect.  That's how jewelry was made, back before safety clasps.  ;-)

I hope you liked my little collection!

Comments

[Georgene Lockwood]

I have a couple of bar pins like those. I believe they date back to the Civil War or thereabouts. I always called them pinchbeck jewelry, but I'm not sure that's the correct term. Now and then I dress up as a Victorian lady and that's when I get them out to wear. You can't help but wonder where they've been and what they've seen.

[vintage ring]

Your home made jewelry which you found in these markets are just unbeliveable! I wish I had some special pins like those. I think I need a good shopping right now..