A Victorian Sterling Silver Tennis Brooch - Birmingham 1894

Anyone for Tennis? This Sterling silver Tennis Brooch pin dates to the 19th Century.  It is one of the nicest sports-related jewellery pins I have found. It has a full set of hallmarks on the back - the Lion Passant to show it is Sterling Silver (925 parts fine in the 1000), the Anchor for the Birmingham Assay Office and a Date Letter which is a Gothic 'u' for the year 1894.  It also tells more of its story with the maker's mark of "ALLd" being the work of the silversmiths Adie and Lovekin well-known for their novelty items made at their Frederick Street workshops in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.  This is an old-fashioned shaped tennis racquet with a flat top edge. It is a most realistic miniature with its open strings, tiny ball and engine engraved lines on the handle grip. These antique brooches were popular gifts and were worn by enthusiasts as a conversation piece.  The reverse of this silver brooch has an open 'c' clasp and the long pin is silver.  This collectable old silver brooch is in great condition.  The silver brooch measures 1.75 inches long by just half an inch wide. When this brooch was Hallmarked in 1894 the Wimbledon Gents Finals saw Joshua Pim as the winner whilst the Ladies Singles Finals were won by Blanche Hilliard. This wonderful antique silver brooch would be perfect for all and could be worn on the lapel or a hat. 

JEWELLERY DETAILS

Designer or Brand: ALLd - Adie and Lovekin 

Country of Origin: UK - Birmingham 

Condition: Excellent

Decade: 1890s

Era:  Antique Victorian 

Type: Brooch, Pin 

Material: Sterling Silver

subject: Tennis, Sport