Victorian Memorial Brooch - Three Crowns on Blue Guilloche Enamel

Jewelry : Antique : Memorial : Guilloche : Scandinavian

 

A mysterious but very attractive brooch, the outer part is clearly Victorian, and a memorial brooch. However, instead of the expected lock of hair, one finds a vibrant blue guilloche panel with three crowns or coronets, surrounded by a garland of oak leaves.

The three crowns remind me of the Swedish coat of arms, and the guilloche enamel is also reminiscent of Scandinavia, Norway being especially known for guilloche on silver-gilt or vermeil. The fact that the centre is a badge of some kind implies that it was meant as a memorial to someone from a family of some importance, or possibly a symbol of national mourning.

Testing anywhere on this piece would be intrusive, but slight wear on the scrollwork at the front of the brooch implies that it is silver-gilt. It measures a fraction under 2 inches in width (4.75cm) and has the typically Victorian era extending pin and simple C clasp. There is a white speck on the black enamel in the photographs which is not visible on the brooch

A little light scratching to the enamel, but the pictures show it clearly in full detail.

Item ID: THREE CROWNS

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