Edwardian Chicken & Egg Brooch
Playful antique zoomorphic 'chicken & egg' brooch. It features two milky white pearls, one representing the body of the chicken and the other representing the egg, with the head and neck of the chicken rendered in mottled yellow enamel. The brooch fittings are crafted in bright 15 carat gold and it dates from the Edwardian era, circa 1910.
So... which came first: the chicken or the egg? Put simply, the egg. Birds have been laying the shelled orbs we're thinking of for millions of years while chickens, according to DNA studies and archaeological evidence, have been around for less than 10,000 years. However, the fun of this classic causality dilemma realistically lies in the way it reflects the human difficulty to sequence events where one thing relies on the other being done first, and vice versa. According to Aristotle, in the fourth century BC, it's an example of an infinite sequence with no true beginning; a way of imagining what infinity represents. Later, Plutarch referred to the chicken and egg as a 'great and weighty problem' that forced philosophers to engage in questions about the beginning and possible end of the world. Thus, in a way, the chicken and egg were the predecessors to modern-day questions about cosmology, deep time, and physics. So, they were both actually quite ahead of their time, if you ask me. (But it's still the egg.)
Era: Edwardian, circa 1910
Size: 5.1cm by 1.1cm
Stone: Pearl
Marks: Stamped 15CT
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).
Shipping
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
US Customs charges a 10% "Reciprocal Tariff" on all parcels coming in from the UK.
We will pay this charge on your behalf (via UPS or Royal Mail) and you will see it collected as a line item at checkout.
[Last updated: August 29th, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit 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 or scrape is 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.
Buying a Gift?
Leave a note at checkout and we'll include a handwritten note to the recipient. Just tell us what you'd like to say :)
More Questions?
Get in touch... There's a live chat at the bottom right of the page.
info@lostowl.com