Sparkling Victorian butterfly

OBJECT GROUP : brooches
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN : Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe it is of Belgian origin.
STYLE : Victorian
PERIOD : 1850
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION : Mother Nature
THEME : butterfly
MATERIAL : Silver on top and backed with 18K gold (see explanation on silver on gold).
EXTRA INFO : butterflies - According to the "Butterflies" chapter in Kwaidan (a book by Lafcadio Hearn that features several Japanese ghost stories and a brief study on insects) a butterfly is seen as the personification of a person's soul; whether they be living, dying, or already dead. One Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters your guestroom and perches behind the bamboo screen, the person whom you most love is coming to see you.
The Russian word for "butterfly" (bábochka) also means "bow tie". It is a diminutive of "baba" or "babka" (= "woman, grandmother, cake", whence also "babushka" = "grandmother".
The Ancient Greek word for "butterfly" is psyche, which primarily means "soul" or "mind".
In Chinese culture two butterflies flying together are a symbol of love. Also a famous Chinese folk story called Butterfly Lovers. The Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi once had a dream of being a butterfly flying without care about humanity, however when he woke up and realised it was just a dream, he thought to himself "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"
In some old cultures, butterflies also symbolize rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon for a period of time.
The idiom "butterflies in the stomach" is used to describe a state of nervousness and some people say that when a butterfly lands on you it means good luck.
DIAMONDS : Two old mine brilliant cut diamonds with a total estimated weight of approx. 0.06 crt. and 46 rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.
PRECIOUS STONES : 23 rubies - Click here for more information on ruby
BIRTHSTONES : Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for the month April (common attributions to diamond) and ruby for July (common attributions to ruby)
WEIGHT : 6.10 gram (3.92 dwt)
HALLMARKS : No trace
CONDITION : Excellent condition - (our condition scale)
DIMENSIONS : Width approx. 2.72 cm (1.07 inch)


WHEN REFERRING TO THIS PIECE : Mention the following number: 08106-4101 or click here.



Click here for a general birthstones explanation or click on the following links to see more of our:

Victorian brooches
Jewelry with insects
Jewelry with animals
Articles with birthstones (or month stones) for the month April
Articles with birthstones (or month stones) for the month July
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