Victorian Ant Brooch
Cool Victorian ant brooch dating from the latter half of the 19th century. Crafted in 15 carat gold and silver, the abdomen is a pearl, the thorax an old mine cut diamond, and the eyes two ruby cabochons.
Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study... Anthropomorphised ants have often been used in fables and children's stories to represent industriousness and cooperative effort. - Wikipedia
A study from the University of Bristol appears to confirm that ant colonies behave as "superorganisms", rather than collections of individuals, effectively operating as, "complex systems, displaying emergent properties much greater than the sum of their individual parts". The idea of a superorganism requires us to consider the entire colony as the individual, with the ants acting more like cells. Alone, a single ant (or cell) would die, but together they form part of a greater whole.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Size: 1.6cm by 2.4cm
Stones: Natural Pearl (6.2mm), Rubies an Old Mine Cut Diamond (0.42ct calculated)
Marks: None present, tested as 15ct gold and silver
Condition: Great antique condition, brooch clasp is a later replacement
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)
Shipping
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£35 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
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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, 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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alex@lostowl.jewelry