1879 Cross Over Bracelet

Jewelry : Antique : Bracelet, Crossover

 

This is a fantastic Victorian cross over bracelet. The design is somewhat different from the usual one; having in the center of the cross over a fan design. The raised pattern on the fan is very ornate. There are five raised round designs along a curved border. Below the border is a continuous crossover outline with a small round raised circle at the apex of each configuration. A double line separates the design at the top from a smaller motif at the bottom. The layout at the bottom consists of an array of six designs each one touching the next. The top of the composition is a semi circle at the bottom looking a bit like a star. A raised accordion layout extends to a raised circle at the bottom of the fan. Folks, so far this description has just dealt the fan at the center of the bracelet. Luckily, the band that extends around is simple, a hollow tube, with a catch at the back. The catch is a little different, a knob slips into the hollow tube and slides securely across, locking into position. You ask, were is the cross over? It actually might be characterized as a simulated crossover. The tube crosses over behind the fan with one tube at the top and the other below it. Each has the traditional knob at the end of the tube.

The bracelet is hallmarked at the back of the fan, reading Pat Dec 16, 1879. We suspect that the bracelet is gold filled, as many of the bracelets like this are, but it is not marked as such. There are some imperfections, as might be expected, most of them being on the interior. There are few small dings, all these can be seen in the photographs to the left. None of the “faults” described mar the beauty of the bracelet when you are wearing it. It has a beautiful patina. which we haven’t cleaned, giving the person who buys it a chance shine it up or leave the color created by its many years.

The interior of the bracelet measures 7 1/4" around. The fan measures 3/4” in width. I feel like this is a piece of history, although if this were Europe or Asia, it would be considered almost new, one of the down sides of being the “New World”.

Item ID: lim 650