Antique Diamond, Sapphire & Ruby Brooch Made of Gold & Silver, c. 1890

Few eras embraced the play with symbols as much as the late 19th century. Gemstones were assigned meanings, and shapes became speaking symbols in the history of jewellery. The brooch presented here from around 1890 clearly demonstrates this, as it is full of references and allusions. We see an elongated cornucopia from which a small pearl blooms in white. Two diamond-set cuffs hold a festoon of small leaves, and a cloverleaf sparkles in the brilliance of a ruby, a sapphire, and a diamond. What we see here is a classic wedding gift for a bride from around 1890, promising eternal love, fidelity, and happiness. While the pearl of the blossom represents innocence, the blue sapphire in the language of gemstones symbolises loyalty, the ruby stands for love, and the many diamonds, as the hardest mineral on earth, symbolise eternity. The festoon of leaves represents the bride’s myrtle wreath. In ancient Greece, the myrtle was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Myrtle branches are symbols of virginity, vitality, and many healthy children, but also of love that transcends death. Greeks and Romans already adorned the virgin bride with a myrtle wreath. In the 16th century, this wedding custom also became established in Germany. The custom developed that the young wife would plant a branch from the bridal wreath in the earth and allow it to take root. The growing plant was seen as an indicator of lasting marital happiness and was especially nurtured. The brooch, with its loving symbolism, was once a wedding gift in the family of the porcelain manufacturer Lorenz Hutschenreuther, from whose estate we were able to acquire it through various channels. The brooch is in excellent condition and is a meaningful piece of jewellery, promising eternal love and fidelity.

Schätzpreis:1.690€

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