Georgian Urn & Flowers Micro Pearl Memorial Brooch

A shuttle-shaped, Georgian era, memorial brooch, modeled in 18k rose yellow gold, whose face is decorated with an intricate composition of micro-pearls. This striking assemblage is made to recall an urn, planted with flowers and trailing vines. Akin to a "painting" made of pearls, it is laid atop a field of glowing, royal blue enamel, and encapsulated under crystal, where it is surrounded by a halo of uniform white seed pearls. The brooch's reverse is a sealed locket that holds plaited swaths of human hair— the gold border that surounds it is engraved: "Eliz Hawkins, died 22 Feb 1784 agd 76." A second name "Bryan Hodgson" is also engraved, here, but without the details of his life and death. This is a rare and wonderful object, in exceptional condition! The pearls are intact, the hinge and pin stem are beautiful, and it is all original, but for a hanging loop that has been recently tacked on, so that the brooch can be worn as a pendant. We can safely remove this late addition, at your request. 

Materials

18k gold
Pearl
Enamel

Age

c. 1784

Dimensions

Brooch measures approx 1 3/8" (measured from tip to tip, and not including loops or long pin stem); total drop measures approx 1 15/16"; pearls in surround (41) measure approx 1.6 mm.