Victorian Crescent Moon Brooch
Sublime Victorian crescent moon brooch dating from the latter half of the 19th century, circa 1880. The crescent has a thin, shallow profile and it's liberally set with gemstones: turquoise, diamonds, and pearls suspended between ribbon-like swags beneath. Each of the three main turquoise stones are set into square 'compartments', the rosy hue of the gold complementing their colour beautifully. Indeed, whomever made this brooch was so please with how it turned out that they decided to register the design. It's crafted in 15 carat rose gold and silver.
The crescent is a potent, ancient symbol usually used to represent the moon but not necessarily a particular lunar phase. When it is (used to denote a lunar phase), the waxing first quarter is referred to as "crescent" or "increscent", and the waning final quarter as "decrescent". The word, crescent, comes from the Latin crescere meaning "to grow". In alchemy, the crescent represents silver, the precious metal, on account of the moon's silvery glow, and the astrological use of the crescent can be traced back to early classical Greek horoscopes. Through Ishtar and Artemis-Diana, there is a strong and ancient link to the divine feminine (mirrored by the sun representing the male principle) and the crescent is often placed with the two points upwards on the crown of the head - like 'horns'. Viewed from the northern hemisphere, the waxing crescent points to the left, and the waning crescent to the right.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Size: 4.8cm by 2.3cm
Stones: Turquoise, Diamond & Pearl
Marks: None, tested as 15ct gold and silver. Registration number
Condition: Great antique condition
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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Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Layaway
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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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