Victorian Beetle Brooch
Incredible Victorian beetle brooch crafted in silver and set with juicy, gummy-like paste cabochons: blood-orange red for the abdomen, vibrant pale purple thorax, and a pink head. English, circa 1900.
The Victorians were obsessed with natural history, and insect jewellery became an outward expression of this fascination. Whilst this brooch doesn't incorporate any real life bug parts (alive or dead), that was certainly a thing back in the 1800s:
"In 1891, a Mrs. DeJones debuted a fabulous piece of living jewelry. She strapped a diamond to the back of a live beetle and trained it to fly around her neck, tracing the shape of a necklace. At least, that was the story in Entomological News. This tidbit, snipped from some anonymous daily newspaper, might be best taken with a grain of salt.
"Even if it wasn’t true, it was certainly on trend. In 1863, Godey’s Lady’s Book reported that “[t]he ornithological and entomological fevers, which broke out last spring, will continue with increased violence throughout the winter.” The fever was still raging twenty-eight years later, when Mrs. DeJones (supposedly) let loose her flying necklace. Exoskeletons were in. Fashion-forward ladies were expected to invest in beetle-wing embroidery and insect carapaces strung together like beads.
"Some particularly trendy ladies took it a step further. They dotted their hairdos with flickering fireflies or let live beetles, leashed to pins, roam over their bodices. “Truly a fashionable toilet is becoming a composite thing, with dead birds and butterflies… and Mexican bugs as jewelry, held by golden chains,” Entomological News opined."
- Insect Jewelry of the Victorian Era by Amelia Soth
Era: Victorian, circa 1900
Size: 3.0cm by 3.0cm
Stones: Paste Gemstones
Marks: None, tested as silver
Condition: Great antique condition, 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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[Last updated: September 15th, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
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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
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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 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.
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