Antique Masonic brooch in silver. Masonic brooch featuring the Square and Compasses within a circle, set with rhinestones. The combination of the Square and Compasses forms a square within the circle, symbolizing matter surrounded by the spiritual. The reunion of body and spirit can be supported by the quest for the squaring of the circle. In Masonic believes, the Compass symbolizes spiritual measurement and the individual’s ability to keep their actions within the bounds of what is right and appropriate. It also represents the capacity for self-assessment and improvement. The Square, on the other hand, represents the virtue of living a straight and balanced life, while respecting moral and ethical laws. Antique brooch, circa 1900.
Swan hallmark (french state hallmark for silver)
Diameter: 26 mm
Condition: signs of wear
Weight: 3.76 gr
*The antique gold chain is not sold with the jewel*
Victorian silver girandole pendant in silver 800. A girandole pendant forming a large knot holding three drops in the style of late 18th-century jewelry. The entire piece is set with white paste stones on foils. Victorian period, circa 1860-1880, France.
Perpignan garnet bangle bracelet in 18 karat rose gold. Bangle bracelet featuring a rose gold hollow stem, the ends decorated with garnets. In the center of the bracelet, a flower formed of 9 round garnets, and on the sides a barrette motif formed of 3 garnets. The stones are “Perpignan” cut, a rose cut with a flat base. They have a beautiful raspberry-pink-red color, typical of Perpignan garnets. The garnets are mounted on foil and in closed setting. The setting is delicately decorated with triangular V-shaped figures on the edges, and the bezel backgrounds are domed. The clasp is a box-latch secured by a chain. Antique rush bracelet, circa 1880, Southeastern France.
Horsehead hallmarks (1838-1919, french state hallmark for 18 karat gold)
Center width: 14 mm
Inside length: 16.5 cm
Inside dimensions: 5 x 5.5 cm
Condition: slight wear scratches, small dents behind two bezels, a inner crack in one of the garnets.
Antique French silver diamond brooch from Arles. Antique regional brooch decorated with openwork motifs. The center of the brooch is adorned with a small diamond in a crumpled-effect setting, a motif typical of the South of France. The brooch is partially gilded on the reverse to prevent silver staining clothing. Antique regional brooch, France, late 19th century.
Antique French Saint Vincent star comb. Antique bun comb with four blond horn teeth, topped by a silver frame with three pentacrine stars (star-shaped fossils) also known as St. Vincent stars. The upper part of the comb is mobile and pivots.Early 20th century antique comb, Digne-Les-Bains, South of France.
Height: 8 cm
Width: 5.2 cm
Condition : Small missing tooth
Weight : 10.40 gr
More details : First introduced in the first half of the 20th century, Saint-Vincent jewelry quickly became a hit in and around Digne-Les-Bains. This success, which lasted for a century, can be explained by its good-luck properties, enveloping the wearer in magical circles. They are formed from pentacrines, which are five-pointed star-shaped fossil segments from the “stems” of crinoids, commonly known as sea lilies.
Victorian micro-mosaic cross pendant in 18 karat gold. Cross pendant with micro-mosaic decoration featuring the words “PAX DEI” meaning “Peace of God” in Latin. In the center, a cross surrounded by two doves, and below, an anchor, an ear of wheat and white flowers. The micro-mosaic decoration is surrounded by a gold-beaded frieze. On the reverse, the cross is inscribed “Xbre M.R.R à M.R.C, 1868”. The anchor is a symbol of hope, but also of early Christianity. The wheat symbolizes Christ, who dies in order to be reborn; and the white flowers symbolize purity and the Virgin Mary. Christian religious pendant, dated 1868, made in Italy for France.
Italian hallmark: crossed keys and miter (active from 1815 to 1870) and eagle head hallmark.
Height (including bezel): 6.5 cm Width: 3.7 cm
Condition: the cross has been restored with a transparent resin to prevent the micro-mosaic from disappearing. This ensures legibility, but is not definitive and can be removed.
Weight : 11.05 gr
More informations : The “Peace of God” is a medieval movement whose origins date back to the 10th century and was intended to impose and guarantee peace for both religious and social reasons. It was mentioned on Italian Grand Tour objects in the 19th century.
Gold signet secret ring in 18 karat gold. Opening secret ring, decorated on the plate with the letter J in calligraphy. The ring opens to reveal a secret compartment that can conceal a photo or souvenir. The shoulders of the ring are delicately decorated with a ribbon motif. Antique sentiment ring, late 19th century. Owl hallmarks (18k gold)
Finger size: 52 EU or 6 US (can be changed)
Tray dimensions: 13 x 11 mm
Inner cavity dimensions: 11 x 8 mm
Condition: slight wear scratches, compartment closes well
Gold Victorian wedding hair pins. This pair of pins consists of two two-prong combs in blond organic material and a twisted-effect element in 18 karat gold. Sold as a pair. France, late 19th century.
True head jewels, these late 19th-century hair accessories will adorn and sublimate your wedding chignon and add a romantic finishing touch.
Eagle head and goldsmith hallmarks
Height: 9.5 cm Width: 2.1 cm
Condition: scratches from use
Weight: 3.96 gr each
Unit price : 340 €
A smaller pair of the same model is available to complete a set of 4 hairpins (last photo). To view them, click here.
Learn more about antique hairstyles: from the 19th to the 20th century, women styled their hair with tendrils (twists plastered on the forehead) and curls framing each side of the face. They added to their hairstyle a comb, flowers, leaves, or ribbons adorned with jewelry.
Fannière Frères angel ring in 18 karat gold and silver 800. Antique ring with charming decoration, depicting an angel holding a ribbon. The angel is in silver, mounted on a gold ring soberly decorated with fine striations. The ring is signed on the inside. Ring made by the Frères Fannière, famous 19th-century silversmiths, circa 1870, France.
Fannières Frères signature, trace of eagle head, owl and swan hallmarks
More information : The company was founded in 1839 by François-Auguste Fannière (1818-1900) and François-Joseph-Louis Fannière (1820-1897), nephews and students of goldsmith Fauconnier. At once designers, sculptors, chiselers and manufacturers, they worked for leading Paris silversmiths such as Baugrand, Duron, Wiese, Odiot, Froment-Meurice and Christofle, then under their own name from 1862. The company was taken over in 1900 by François-Joseph-Louis Fannière’s son, then by Fernand Poisson. Few pieces of jewelry have survived.
Gold Normandy Saint Esprit pendant in 18 karat gold. Originally from Normandy, it features a dove with its head down, holding an olive branch in its beak. The bird hangs from a bow richly decorated with white paste stones, imitating diamonds. Red and green faceted glass adorns the olive branch at the bottom. A flat ring on the reverse of the pendant allows it to be worn on a velvet chain or ribbon. Norman regional catholic pendant, France, circa 1850.
Victorian French enamel foiled paste cross pendant in silver. This cross is in silver with filigree decoration, forming a cross adorn with paste faceted pink glasses on spangles meant to have a look of pink topaz. A black enamel decoration with white dots covers the entire pendant. A glass bead adorns the upper part of the composition. The bezels are completely closed. French work from the beginning of the 19th century
Georgian mourning hair ring in 9k pink gold. An antique locket ring keeping a braid of hair enclosed behind glass crystal. It is framed by a halo of 16 seed pearls and the settings is formed by two separated strands adorned with an openwork pattern. Jewel from the beginning of the 19th century, circa 1810-1830.
Trefoil hallmark (French State hallmark for 9-karat gold)
Finger size: 53 EU or 6.5 US (adjustment possible)
Ring Head Size: 11 x 11mm
Condition: old trace of size adjustment, wears on the glass, indentations behind the head of the ring.
Weight: 2.11 gr
Hair jewellery was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jewellery with compartments made it possible to keep a lock of hair of a lover or a missing person (later it will be the photograph). It can be a medallion or a ring for example. There are also jewels made from hair, such as necklaces, chains, bracelets and rings. These hair jewels are worked like textiles: they are woven, embroidered, twisted. A whole craft industry developed around this new fashion, which lasted until the end of the 19th century.