Featured Mourning brooch silver ring &

Hi folks

a few jewelry type pieces i picked up today around the shops
the indian ciggy case was dead cheap(3) but don't think they are silver (had a similar type before) but still quite nice

the little ring was a tenner but thought a lovely design and nice hallmark, also a sweet case

very interested to find out what the stone is, haven't seen anything like it before, the back of the stone has a blue tinge?.

the morning brooch i think the best find(2) totally unmarked, looks like seed pearls &tiny ruby?

the front look gold(or gilded), the back silver ?

any thoughts or info appreciated

 

looks like the brooch has had a repair i've just noticed

 

almost black without flash (last pics with flash)

lights up like a christmas tree under uv

so a very dark, almost black amber ?

 

nice finds Charlie, I love the brooch
just a thought, could it be a Biedermeier (1815-1845) time period brooch?

 

Thanks cx, interesting lead, never heard of before but will look into

 

not a bad match at all thanks cx, god knows what foam gold is

https://gem.app/product/antique-biedermeier-brooch-or-german-foam

 

I'm trying to think what else the ring could be besides amber, provided it's not. It's certainly likely, and it's a chunk that goes all the way through with the back cut out to let light in. Whoever made that, cared about their work.

 

agree evey, its odd the way the stone? appears under uv. almost man made looking with that marbling
its a stumper

 

been looking at examples of Biedermeier pieces, and looks like they don't always clean up very nicely, so will refrain from cleaning until i workout what foam gold actually is

 

Yes, it is a German Biedermeier brooch. Not for mourning though, just the fashion of the time. These often have a very thin gold front, enforced with some sort of natural resin, and a silver back. There are all gold ones too, also with a very thin front.

I have a collection of these German Biedermeier brooches, also ones with coral in the centre of the onyx/glass, always buy them if the price is right.

Foam gold is a literal translation of the German term Schaumgold, which refers to that thin layer of gold.
You can give it a gentle clean, be careful you don't dent the gold.

 

Not amber. Many stones fluoresce.
It looks like heliotrope/bloodstone to me, but afaik that doesn't fluoresce.

 

Found this:

"Fluorescence: Heliotrope may exhibit weak fluorescence under UV light."

https://www.geologyin.com/2018/03/bloodstone-interesting-facts-about.html

 

Awesome thanks Aj, will try cleaning the front gold areas lighty with soapy water at first to get rid of any debris (and avoiding the wee stones)

 

might have sealed the deal as bloodstone was my first thought (but never had any before) sort of reminds me a little of the bloodstone fobs i've seen

thanks Aj

 

Best not use water. There could be tiny cracks and the brooch is hollow. Some alcohol on a cotton bud is better. No alcohol on the micropearls though. And gently polish the brooch with a sunshine cloth, if you have it.

 

caught me just in time good job i'm at sloth level today !

 

just out of interest, but would these have been worn vertical (saw another example and they had it that way) and right up at the collar ?

always wanted one of them (not to wear) just think its a cool look (and would look good pictured like that for sale)

 

Biedermeier brooches were made horizontally as well as vertically. In general Biedermeier dresses didn't have high collars, they were fairly low-cut with a wide neckline. There were exceptions with higher collars, but this brooch was worn horizontally close to the low neckline, in the centre.

 

Biedermeier fashion. Your brooch would be worn where the flower is on the neckline of the lady on the right: