Victorian Silver Name Brooch - ALICE - 1890

This is a really lovely Victorian Sterling Silver Name Brooch with the name ALICE on it. It  hallmarked clearly to the reverse with the Lion Passant for Sterling Silver, the Anchor for Birmingham and the gothic letter ‘q’ for 1890. There is a partial makers mark too.  The name itself has been cut out and is further decorated with detailed engraving.  'ALICE'  is surrounded by cut out flowers and foliage and each flower has the central stamens and each leaf has the veins traced onto its surface. This antique brooch is typical of the designs found in Victorian name brooches of the 1880s and 1890s.  It is a round shape with pierced decoration.   It has a classical ball decoration around the outer edge and also a castellated border  and is about the size of on old penny - 3.5cms in diameter.   To the reverse, in keeping with  all antique brooches of this period it fastens with a 'c' type clasp and has an extra long pin.  This fabulous piece of original Victorian jewellery is in very good condition too. I never overclean antique brooches as collectors often want their Victorian or Edwardian jewellery to look as if it has some age! This would clean up bright and shiny with a silver cleaner if you wanted it to look like new! 

Name brooches were a great favourite with Victorian and Edwardian ladies.  These antique brooches and pins started out as name badges for the staff in large country houses and later became popular sweetheart brooches.  Many were made in Birmingham, England's jewellery quarter, and they are becoming most fashionable again with the resurgence of lovely old names that were popular in the 19th and early 20th Century.

JEWELLERY DETAILS

Designer or Brand: Makers mark partial ‘ M’

Country of Origin: UK - Birmingham Hallmark for 1890

Condition: Very Good

Decade: 1890s

Era: Victorian 

Type: Antique Name Brooch - Alice

Material: Sterling silver