Jewelry
Lover’s Eye Brooches
Portrait miniatures mounted as brooches, pendants, or lockets were very popular items of jewelry during the 18th century. Toward the end of the century, an unusual variation became fashionable: the eye brooch, or lover's... Read More →
Georgian Mourning Brooches
Morbid symbols of death, such as skeletons, skulls, and coffins continued to be used in English mourning jewelry well into the 18th century, but by the second half of the century had become less common and were replaced by images of sorrow.... Read More →
Georgian Hearts
Heart-shaped jewels have been around since medieval times, but the hearts in this collection have their origins in the 17th century. A popular Stuart jewel made to honor Charles I was the simple crystal heart-shaped locket... Read More →
Woven-Hair Lace Pins
This collection is comprised of lace pins that include a central panel of woven hair under glass. The glass-enclosed panel is generally surrounded by stones or chased metal. The hair would have belonged to a loved one— a child, a spouse, a lover, a parent — and in some cases was simply a token of affection, ie a mother wearing a pin set with her child's hair.... Read More →
Georgian Paste Shoe Buckles
Buckles were made to be attached to the shoe's two straps, or latchets, securing them over the instep. A pitchfork-shaped double prong, called a tongue, fastened one latchet, and two short spikes on the loop, or chape, attached the anchoring latchet.... Read More →
Georgian Knee Buckles
Breeches fastened just below the knee with either buttons, ties, or... Read More →
Georgian Stock Buckles
Stock buckles were worn at the back of the neck to hold in place the starched or stiffened stock worn by gentlemen through most of the 18th... Read More →
Quizzing Glasses
A "quizzing glass" was a single magnifying lens on a handle which was held up before the eye to enable closer scrutiny of the object in view. The quizzing glass is not to be confused with the lorgnette, which has two lenses, and more often than not a correctable (prescription) lens rather than a simple... Read More →
Ring with Vinaigrette
The ring is gold with chased and engraved decoration on the sides. The center of the ring holds a tiny vinaigrette, about ⅛” across. The hinged cover is made of rock crystal... Read More →
Silhouette Jewelry
Silhouettes were set into all sorts of jewelry: rings, brooches, lockets, bracelets. They very popular as mourning jewelry as they could be copied and sent to friends and family of the deceased – a much more personal memento than a mourning ring. Many of the pieces shown here, especially lockets, include locks of hair, which may mark them as mourning... Read More →