A circa 1880 beetle brooch with reddish tiger’s eye and seed pearls

Designed as a stylised beetle, this Late Victorian brooch of circa 1880 has a quietly eccentric charm. Its reddish brown tiger’s eye body shows a subtle rose copper sheen as the light moves across it, while seed pearls and red stone eyes add small points of brightness. Made in gilded silver, with time-softened wear to the gilding, it reflects the 19th-century delight in nature, exoticism and imaginative jewel design.

Jewellery Type
brooch

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
unknown

Style
Late Victorian - The Late Victorian period was marked by a rich and eclectic taste, combining historical revival styles with cross-cultural influences from the Middle East and Asia. In jewellery, this often resulted in imaginative designs, naturalistic motifs, symbolic subjects and a taste for unusual materials and colour contrasts.

Insect jewels, including beetles and scarab-inspired forms, fitted particularly well within this late 19th-century fascination with nature, exoticism and decorative invention. The use of tiger’s eye, seed pearls and coloured stone accents gives this brooch the playful yet refined character often associated with Late Victorian jewellery.
See also: late Victorian
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Period
ca. 1880
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Nature

Theme
stylised beetle, possibly scarab-inspired

Material
Gilded silver, the gilding showing areas of wear acquired over time.
more info on precious metals

Precious stones
Two sections of reddish brown tiger's eye, showing a subtle rose-copper sheen in the moving light.
Two red stones, possibly rubies, set as eyes.
Seventeen half seed pearls.

Gemstones are often treated to improve their colour or clarity. The stones in this piece have not been tested for treatment unless otherwise stated.

Birthstones
Ruby is the birthstone (or month stone) for July and pearl for June.
more info on birthstones

Hallmarks
Illegible remains.
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Dimensions
3,50 cm (1,38 inch) x 2,22 cm (0,87 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
11,60 gram (7,46 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26127-0278

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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