Sunday, November 17, 2013

VICTORIAN PINCHBECK SEED PEARL HEART AND HAIR MOURNING BROOCH 1860s


Newly listed to Metal Corset II is this stunning Victorian era seed pearl heart and hair memorial Pinchbeck locket brooch.

Check it out!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

DESIRE-HAND SERIES NO. 3


I've collected several antique jewelry components over the years that have either been orphaned, such as components to a larger jewelry piece, or broken bits of treasure, such as a locket front. 

These items continue to convey beauty in their own way and just like any orphan, they desire to find a new home and family.

A few of these saved items were used to create this beautiful bracelet and have now found a new home.

The antique jewelry components are as follows:

1. Victorian ship's wheel compass in working order
2. Victorian carved gutta percha castle pendant (probably once from a gutta percha bracelet)
3. Art Nouveau gold filled locket of a beautiful woman with flowing hair and paste stones (front only)
4. Art Deco Habille carved shell cameo locket with diamond necklace
5. Victorian brass hand from an antique chatelaine chain


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

DAGUERREOTYPE ASSEMBLAGE NECKLACE-HAND SERIES NO. 2


Newly listed to Metal Corset is this Victorian daguerreotype assemblage necklace. 

I've combined it with an Victorian gutta percha hand and rose brooch and an Victorian carved bone or ivory love birds brooch and suspended it from a four stranded necklace which includes an assemblage of:

baroque pearls, antique French faceted steel cut beads from an Art Deco purse, silver and gold faceted pyrite, black spinel beads, antique mother of pearls, antique carved ivory rose beads, antique blue Czech glass beads, bone ring, t-bar from a watch chain, antique rhinestone ball, Victorian 14k gold corrugated beads and a length of gold plated Victorian book chain.

Monday, November 4, 2013

GEORGIAN GOLD ENGRAVED MEMORIAL MOURNING BROOCH WITH FLAMING HEARTS HAIR SEPIA MINIATURE


Newly listed to Metal Corset II is this rare Georgian (1790-1820) flaming hearts hair memorial mourning brooch. 

Beneath the glazed compartment is a beautiful sepia painting which was painstakingly hand created using macerated hair.

Several loving symbolic icons are represented in this memorial piece as follows: 

Cypress Tree:  Symbolic for hope as the trees point towards the heavens
Dog:  Symbolizes Fidelity (rare)
Column or plinth:
     Unbroken-Symbolic for Strength of Life and Eternity
     Broken-Symbolic for Life cut short
Flaming Hearts:  Symbolic forTogetherness and Love
Crown/Wreath:  Symbolic for Redemption

And a monogram/cypher made of hair, "CM" or "MC" which could stand for Charles and Mary, or Christine and Michael, etc.

So, my interpretation of this brooch memorializes two individuals in love, probably a husband and wife, that will continue to love one another for an eternity in fidelity that now reside in heaven and live in the glory of redemption. 

(thank you to www.artofmourning.com for symbolism)