An early Victorian gold mourning brooch, depicting a bicolour onyx cameo of an urn with ouroboros surround, with split pearl border to a black enamel scalloped rectangular ground.
The reverse with woven hair glazed panel and inscription ‘Joseph Redish, Ob’t 7th July 1841 Ae’t 75.
The brooch is loaded with symbolism:
the ouroboros is a depiction of a snake eating it’s own tail, forming a circle, a visual representation of the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth, a reminder that death is not the end but another part of the cycle.
the split pearls for pure tears for the deceased and black for remembrance.
Joseph Redish was an accountant who worked at 5 Houghton Street and later Clarence Street in Liverpool, mentioned in the 1801 census and in the will of James Hargreaves (1812) as an executor of the same.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked.
Electronically tests as approximately 12ct gold.
Date:
Circa 1840.
Length:
3.2cm.
Condition:
General slight discolouration.
Pin shows bends, currently functional.
Small area of file scratches to the reverse.
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.
An early Victorian gold mourning brooch, depicting a bicolour onyx cameo of an urn with ouroboros surround, with split pearl border to a black enamel scalloped rectangular ground.
The reverse with woven hair glazed panel and inscription ‘Joseph Redish, Ob’t 7th July 1841 Ae’t 75.
The brooch is loaded with symbolism:
the ouroboros is a depiction of a snake eating it’s own tail, forming a circle, a visual representation of the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth, a reminder that death is not the end but another part of the cycle.
the split pearls for pure tears for the deceased and black for remembrance.
Joseph Redish was an accountant who worked at 5 Houghton Street and later Clarence Street in Liverpool, mentioned in the 1801 census and in the will of James Hargreaves (1812) as an executor of the same.
Marks:
Apparently unmarked.
Electronically tests as approximately 12ct gold.
Date:
Circa 1840.
Length:
3.2cm.
Condition:
General slight discolouration.
Pin shows bends, currently functional.
Small area of file scratches to the reverse.
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.