Victorian Aluminium Brooch
A sweet Victorian aluminium brooch, dating from the mid-19th century. Aluminium, discovered in 1827 by a German chemist named Wöhler, was first used in jewellery in the 1850s. The difficulty of extracting the metal meant it was rare and expensive; it seemed the perfect choice for jewellery and, for a short while, was more valuable than gold. A number of manufacturers showed aluminium jewellery at the Paris Exhibition of 1867, where some of the best artistic, literary, and scientific inventions from around the globe were brought together in a triumphant display of innovation. This brooch is mounted in gilt metal and depicts pretty eglantine flowers, which have romantic and literary associations with Shakespeare's England and the Court of Elizabeth I. Shakespeare's love and knowledge of flora impressed the Victorians, who saw an affection for flowers as a sign of wholesomeness and simplicity.
Era: Victorian, circa 1850
Size: 2.7cm by 2.1cm
Marks: None, tested as base metal and aluminium
Condition: Good, light wear consistent with age
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
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Resizing
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Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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