A highly unusual late Victorian silver Scottish agate and saphiret glass man-in-the-moon target brooch.
Saphiret glass was created in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia, made with genuine gold blended into blue glass that creates beautiful bright blue and brown hues. The high production cost meant that the gem was only produced for a relatively short time with the man-in-the-moon motif believed to be made in the earlier period.
A face has been seen in the moon for millennia by generations of people from across the world, often with gods or mythical figures accounting for the features visible.
One such figure is a claret drinker, the ballard about him goes:
Our man in the moon drinks clarret,
With powder-beef, turnep and carret.
If he doth so, why should not you
Drink until the sky looks blew?
Which rather fits this man-in-the-moon as he turns blue in the light.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked with regard metal or maker.
Date:
Circa 1890.
Length:
4.2cms.
Condition:
Small marks in keeping with wear.
Replacement clasp.
Scratched initials JAA twice to the reverse.
Saphiret has a chip to the chin of the man-in-the-moon.
Glue visible to mount of saphiret.
By clicking to ‘Purchase’ you agree to having read the Important Information for Purchasers.
Our primary concern is that you are pleased with your purchase. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like about a product before clicking purchase. We appreciate patina and the ‘age’ that older pieces acquire, because of this we do not polish pieces to strip away the age (though your local jeweller may be willing to do this for you for a small fee). Secondhand, vintage and antique pieces will naturally show scratches and small marks, these will often appear more noticeable in the enlarged images that we have made available for you. Our images are as realistic as they can be. Although any appreciable defects/damages will be mentioned please do inspect the images as they do form a part of the condition report.
Antique items may longer not be suitable for everyday wear or may benefit from thoughtful consideration when worn with care.
A highly unusual late Victorian silver Scottish agate and saphiret glass man-in-the-moon target brooch.
Saphiret glass was created in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia, made with genuine gold blended into blue glass that creates beautiful bright blue and brown hues. The high production cost meant that the gem was only produced for a relatively short time with the man-in-the-moon motif believed to be made in the earlier period.
A face has been seen in the moon for millennia by generations of people from across the world, often with gods or mythical figures accounting for the features visible.
One such figure is a claret drinker, the ballard about him goes:
Our man in the moon drinks clarret,
With powder-beef, turnep and carret.
If he doth so, why should not you
Drink until the sky looks blew?
Which rather fits this man-in-the-moon as he turns blue in the light.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked with regard metal or maker.
Date:
Circa 1890.
Length:
4.2cms.
Condition:
Small marks in keeping with wear.
Replacement clasp.
Scratched initials JAA twice to the reverse.
Saphiret has a chip to the chin of the man-in-the-moon.
Glue visible to mount of saphiret.
By clicking to ‘Purchase’ you agree to having read the Important Information for Purchasers.
Our primary concern is that you are pleased with your purchase. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like about a product before clicking purchase. We appreciate patina and the ‘age’ that older pieces acquire, because of this we do not polish pieces to strip away the age (though your local jeweller may be willing to do this for you for a small fee). Secondhand, vintage and antique pieces will naturally show scratches and small marks, these will often appear more noticeable in the enlarged images that we have made available for you. Our images are as realistic as they can be. Although any appreciable defects/damages will be mentioned please do inspect the images as they do form a part of the condition report.
Antique items may longer not be suitable for everyday wear or may benefit from thoughtful consideration when worn with care.