Georgian Regency French Jet Hair sale Lace Pin Brooch

Georgian Regency French Jet Hair Pin Brooch

Lovely original late Georgian Regency era lace pin / hair brooch in a rolled gold setting with 12 faceted French Jet (black glass) stones surrounding a center receiver with woven hair of dark and light blonde - probably from two different members of the same family. VERY unusual to find a brooch of this age with French Jet! Brooch is tiny and measures just 3/4" in width by 1/2" in height, with period correct tube hinge and "c" clasp closure. Very good condition for a piece with this age!!

Godey's Lady's Book endorsed the fashion of hair jewelry and made it easy to acquire. The following excerpt extolling the virtues of hairwork is from c. 1850: "Hair is at once the most delicate and last of our materials and survives us like love. It is so light, so gentle, so escaping from the idea of death, that, with a lock of hair belonging to a child or friend we may almost look up to heaven and compare notes with angelic nature, may almost say, I have a piece of thee here, not unworthy of thy being now."

Lace pins are so called because they were frequently used to confine a length of lace at the neckline or at the throat, or sometimes to attach drapery at the shoulder. It is interesting to note that although the term “pin” to mean “brooch” is an American custom, in England these little brooches were always referred to as “pins,” either lace pins or handkerchief pins, probably because their function was similar to that of a dress pin, to hold something in place, and was not merely ornamental. They often have sentimental meaning, however, and are therefore frequently classified as sentimental jewelry. These little lace pins are of the early type most popular during the Regency Era. Similar pins continued to be worn, in various forms, through the end of the 19th century. During the Regency years, the pins were quite small and delicate, some no bigger than a half inch. They became larger and heavier during the Victorian years.

“Rolled Gold” is the term given to jewelry which is gold-filled or composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal, usually brass. Rolled gold jewelry is usually made by rolling out sheets from sale which the jewelry is molded or “formed.” This way of making jewelry was patented in England in 1817 and quickly became a prime source for better-made and higher-quality costume jewelry in the Victorian era. In the United States, it is more commonly referred to as "Gold Plate".

Take a look at my other original Victorian brooches! http://www.etsy.com/shop/victoriansentiments?section_id=7179660