A delightful late Victorian gold stickpin of a monkey grasping a pearl symbolising a peach.
This image is well known in the Eastern hemisphere and bears multiple symbolic meanings: the peach traditionally represents immortality and the monkey represents success in office, potentially a great present for a loved one to celebrate a big promotion or a new job.
With the opening up of the East in the latter half of the 19th century, the West was flooded with eastern art in this new aesthetic, delighting an English audience who could identify monkeys aping mankind after Darwin’s Theory of Evolution saw widespread mockery in a similar vein.
Monkeys also represent close ties to family, sometimes as with the Tzeltal people of Mexico being incarnations of the ancestors. The monkey reminds us that playfulness is necessary for the soul.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked with regards metal or maker.
Electronically tests to the monkey as approximately 21ct gold, possible interference from gilt finish.
Electronically tests to the pin as approximately 9ct gold.
Date:
Late Victorian, circa 1880.
Length:
Length of stickpin head 1.1cms.
Length of pin 5.8cms.
Condition:
Pearl untested for natural origin. The pearl rotates freely. Pearl shows wear to the nacre layers near the drill hole. General slight dirt/discolouration. The pin unscrews from the monkey.
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 delightful late Victorian gold stickpin of a monkey grasping a pearl symbolising a peach.
This image is well known in the Eastern hemisphere and bears multiple symbolic meanings: the peach traditionally represents immortality and the monkey represents success in office, potentially a great present for a loved one to celebrate a big promotion or a new job.
With the opening up of the East in the latter half of the 19th century, the West was flooded with eastern art in this new aesthetic, delighting an English audience who could identify monkeys aping mankind after Darwin’s Theory of Evolution saw widespread mockery in a similar vein.
Monkeys also represent close ties to family, sometimes as with the Tzeltal people of Mexico being incarnations of the ancestors. The monkey reminds us that playfulness is necessary for the soul.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked with regards metal or maker.
Electronically tests to the monkey as approximately 21ct gold, possible interference from gilt finish.
Electronically tests to the pin as approximately 9ct gold.
Date:
Late Victorian, circa 1880.
Length:
Length of stickpin head 1.1cms.
Length of pin 5.8cms.
Condition:
Pearl untested for natural origin. The pearl rotates freely. Pearl shows wear to the nacre layers near the drill hole. General slight dirt/discolouration. The pin unscrews from the monkey.
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.