DATE: Victorian, c.1900

Often the minute details 'make' a piece as much as the overall design. This is one of those pieces. The brooch is lovely, dating from the late Victorian period and featuring a dome of rock crystal reverse intaglio carved with an elegant pheasant - incredible detail, and beautifully executed. The border features hand engraved thistle motifs, suggesting it's likely Scottish in origin (like myself), but the best part is a tiny pair of details to the back of the border... the word MIZPAH and a double heart pierced by one of Cupid's arrows. It was certainly exchanged as a love token, and likely a secret one at that on account of the hidden romantic sentiments, but further than this speculation the specifics of its commission and exchange are lost to the mists of time...

STONES 

Rock Crystal

MEASUREMENTS 

3.8 x 3.1cm

WEIGHT 

11.0g

MARKS 

MIZPAH and a pierced double heart motif (gold plated frame)

CONDITION 

Very good, light wear commensurate with age and use