Description
This is a lovely Edwardian-era bar brooch dating to about 1900, completely encrusted in tiny clear and purple pastes. The pastes are set in two long rows encircling an oval amethyst (most likely glass) at the centre, set in a finely-toothed bezel. The pastes are just 1.5 mm (0.1″) in diameter and high quality, with a lively sparkle. Despite their tiny size, the stones are prong-set – this is a well-made, quality brooch that could pass as “the real thing”.
The bezel teeth are gold toned but the rest of the metal is a silver tone, darkened between the stones. From a small goldtone patch on the back (top centre) I believe it is plated in silver or a silver-tone metal but otherwise, it is very difficult to tell. It has a simple “safety-pin” style clasp.
Dimensions
6.7 cm in length, 1.3 cm high at the centre and 0.4 cm high along the bar.
(2.6″ wide by 0.5″ and 0.2″ high).
Marks
There are no maker’s or other marks – not unusual for jewellery of this age.
Condition
This antique brooch is in very good vintage condition with no damage or missing stones.