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Victorian Sweetheart Jewelry

You are on a reference page of Morning Glory Antiques & Jewelry. These items were photographed from private collections, and are for reference only.

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VICTORIAN SWEETHEART PINS

The intricate symbolic pins shown below have been called by several names
including Sweetheart Pins, Symbol Pins, Good Luck and Sentimental jewelry.
Usually made of sterling or sterling with rose and/or yellow gold overlay,
they are each a small study in the symbolism seen throughout Victorian life.
Most of these were made from 1880s to circa 1915. Many of them are
hallmarked for the maker, city and date, but many are not, too.

One maker who seems to have fashioned many of these pins,
as well as hinged bangles and other sterling jewelry, is "S.Bros." (Sydenham
Brothers) who worked in both Birmingham and Chester at the turn of the
century, 1899-1900. Their pieces are also especially intricate and well
made, and they did much more than just sweetheart pins.

The book "Victorian Sentimental Jewellery" by Diana Cooper
& Norman Battershill, published in 1972, has a nice collection of this
category of jewelry, as well as other sentimental jewelry.

The symbols on each piece are subject to many
interpretations, just a few of which are listed here:

Cross Heart & Anchor = for Faith, Hope & Charity or Love
Birds = Lovebirds
Swallows = the soul winging its way to heaven
Padlock & Key = Entry to my heart
Flowers = many meanings depending on the flower
Forget-me-nots = the obvious, never forget me
Ivy leaves = eternal love
Hearts = love


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VICTORIAN
enameled flowers fan brooch in sterling silver with
beautifully enameled flowers, white lilies and blue forget-me-nots, 2" by 1" and a good quality
piece. From the 1880s, it is still in excellent vintage condition, a
real beauty.

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#V42384


VICTORIAN
antique birds locket brooch in sterling silver with and rose
and yellow gold birds sitting on etched flowered branches with ferns and
grasses on the front. On the back is a locket with a clear cover for a photo or a lock of
hair. This charming pin belonged to my friend who collects
antique fan jewelry of all kinds. This is from the 1880s, it is 1-1/3" by
1-1/2" and the total weight is about .28 ounces.

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#V41978


VICTORIAN
sterling silver Japonesque bamboo etched design fan brooch, 2" by 1-1/4".
Similar Aesthetic fan pins can be seen on page 53 of "Antique & Twentieth
Century Jewelry" by Vivienne Becker.

View
#V32074


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VICTORIAN
rose brooch, an antique sterling silver and gold brooch
with magnificent detail. It has intricate rose gold roses and
yellow gold leaves with etched stems in the background. It also
has a double beaded edge, and an open locket compartment on the back
with glass cover on it for a photo or a lock of hair. It has a
c-catch and tube hinge closure, circa 1880, 1-1/3" wide.

View
#V26458


VICTORIAN
sterling silver fan brooch with Aesthetic etched bird and
bamboo leaves design, 1-1/2".Circa 1880, it is in excellent antique
condition.

View
#V28798


VICTORIAN
floral locket brooch, and antique sterling silver oval brooch
with etched designs of flowers and leaves and a detailed beaded edge. There
is an open locket compartment with a cover on back for a photo or a lock of
hair. The brooch has a c-catch and tube hinge, circa 1880, 1-5/8" at
the widest and it weighs about .35 ounces.

View
#V26456



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VICTORIAN
silver bow brooch with rose gold overlay birds, flowers and
scrolls, hallmarked maker "WCM", Birmingham sterling, 1901, 1-1/2" by 3/4".

View
#V37672


VICTORIAN
antique basket brooch in sterling silver with rose and
yellow gold overlay The basket is spilling over with flowers and leaves
and the brooch has a lovely dental edge. It is hallmarked on the
back side for Birmingham date 1885, sterling silver and a maker’s mark
"WCM" for William Clark Manton, size 1-3/4" by 1-1/4". It
weighs about .27 ounces.

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#V37671


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart bow pin with gold overlaid hearts,
scallops and flowers, 1-1/2" by 7/8". On the back is the maker’s mark "WCM"
and hallmarks for Birmingham sterling with the date letter for 1893.

View
#V38247





VICTORIAN
sterling brooch and earrings set in original box, flowers and
scallops designs, brooch with locket back, hallmarked for Birmingham 1885,
maker’s mark "FV", brooch 1-1/2" earrings 1-1/4" total length. The brooch
has a compartment on the back for hair or a tiny photograph. Boxed sets like
this are hard to find and fun to collect.
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View #V35661
VICTORIAN sterling
silver with rose and yellow gold overlay brooch and earrings hallmarked for
Birmingham 1891, maker W.C.M., brooch 1-1/2", earrings 5/8".
View
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#V35794

VICTORIAN
butterfly and flowers motif silver brooch and earrings with
gold overlay and beaded edge in original box, circa 1885, brooch 1-3/4"
earrings 1-3/4" top to bottom. The brooch has a compartment on the back, but
the glass is cracked. Boxed sets like this are hard to find and fun to
collect. View
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View #V35656





VICTORIAN
sterling rectangular brooch with gold overlay, dragon fly and
bird motif with etched bamboo design, open back for photo but no fittings,
1-1/2" by 1-1/8". View
#V36619

VICTORIAN
sterling round brooch with gold overlay, tulips and leaves
motif with scalloped edge, fittings for a photo on the back, 1-1/3" by
1-1/8". View #V36621

VICTORIAN
sterling oval brooch with gold overlay, rose and leaves motif
with etched ferns, hallmarked for Birmingham 1888, open back for photo but
no fittings, 1-7/8" by 1-1/8" .
View
View #V36622



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VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with gold overlay padlock brooch with
entwined ivy leaves and beaded bottom, rose and yellow gold, 1-5/8" by 5/8".
Makers mark "WT" and hallmarks for Birmingham 1907.

View
#V38250


VICTORIAN
antique puffy hollow sterling silver circle brooch with etched rose
and leaf designs, made in the 1880s, 1-3/16" across and weighs
about .16 ounces.

View
#V37958


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart anchor pin in sterling with both rose gold
and yellow gold overlay. The anchor shaped brooch has the "Faith, Hope &
Charity or Love" motif inside a heart with hearts and flowers around it,
1-5/8" by 1-1/8". On the back are hallmarks for the maker "S. Bros",
Birmingham sterling and the date letter for 1907.

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#V38248




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a bird on the wing, double hearts
and flowers and leaves of rose and yellow gold overlaid on sterling, maker’s
mark "S.Bros." (Sydenham Brothers), Birmingham sterling and the date letter
for 1915. The details on this piece are amazing, and also include
forget-me-not flowers and leaves for remembrance, as well as tiny etched
accents. It is 2" by 7/8" and has a beaded edge.

View
#V38260

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose and yellow gold overlay and
designs of entwined hearts, forget-me-not flowers and leaves, 2" by 7/8",
maker’s mark "S.Bros" (Sydenham Brothers) and hallmarked Birmingham sterling and the date letter
for 1906.

View
#V38261

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose and yellow gold bird,
forget-me-not flowers and leaves with tiny etched accents and beaded edge,
2" by 7/8". Hallmarked on the back for the maker "S.Bros", Birmingham
sterling the the date 1903.

View
#V38262




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with gold overlay, a motif of Faith,
Hope & Love in the center, surrounded by forget-me-nots and a beaded edge,
2" by 1". Hallmarked on the back for the maker "S.Bros" and hallmarks for
Birmingham, sterling and the date letter 1900.

View
#V38251


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with gold overlay, a motif of Faith,
Hope & Love in the center, surrounded by forget-me-nots and a beaded edge,
1-3/4" by 7/8". Hallmarked on the back for the maker "S.Bros" and hallmarks
for Birmingham, sterling and the date letter 1905.

View
#V38252

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with gold overlay, a motif of Faith,
Hope & Love in the center, with ivy leaves, 2" by 3/4". Hallmarked on the
back for the maker "JRE" and hallmarks for Birmingham, sterling and the date
letter 1901.

View
#V38253




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with double hearts, flowers and leaves
designs, hallmarked on the back for Chester sterling and the date letter for
1885, maker’s mark not quite legible, 1-5/8" by 3/4".

View
#V38257

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart heart pin with bow, ivy leaves and a
beaded edge, reinforced clasp on the back, 1". The hallmarks on the back are
maker "J.C.", Chester sterling and the date letter for 1900.

View
#V38258


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with bird and flowers, hallmark
illegible but circa 1900, 1-3/4" by 1/3".

View
#V38259



VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a light gold wash, a horseshoe
within a horseshoe for luck with both etched and applied designs, 1-1/3" by
1-1/3". Maker’s mark "S.Bros" and hallmarked for Birmingham sterling date
1894.

View
#V38272

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlay, a horseshoe
with flowers and leaves on each side, 1-3/4" by 3/4". Hallmarked on the back
for Birmingham sterling and the date 1889.

View
#V38273






VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a fancy lock and key surrounded
by flowers and leaves. The maker’s mark "W.T. is on the back, as well as the
Birmingham sterling mark and the date letter for 1894. It is 1-1/2" by
5/8".

View
#V38246


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with two hearts and ivy leaves,
applied forget-me-not flowers and beaded edges, 1-5/8" by 1". Hallmarked for
S.Bros, Birmingham sterling, date letter 1892. Some time in the past, the
pin back has been reinforced for security, as shown in the photo.

View
#V38249



VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a bird in flight, bow and ivy
leaves set atop two hearts, hallmarked "WB Chester sterling" and the date
letter for 1886, 1-5/8" by 3/4". There are tiny etched scrolls on the hearts
and they have a beaded edge.

View
#V38245





VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlay of a bird on
the wing, flowers and hearts, hallmarked for Chester sterling 1901, 1-3/4"
by 7/8".

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#V38263

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlaid bird, flowers
and leaves, beaded edge, 2" by 3/4". Hallmarked for the "S.Bros" maker,
Birmingham and date c 1900.

View
#V38264

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart eye-shaped pin with leaves and swirls
designs and beaded edge. It looks like hallmarks are mis-struck along
an edge, but if so they are very difficult to read, probably 1900, 1-1/2"
by 3/4".

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#V38265




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a heart at the center overlaid
with forget-me-not flowers and leaves, 1-3/4" by 3/4". Hallmarked on the
back for the maker "H&W", Birmingham sterling, and the date letter obscured,
but circa 1880s.

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#V38254

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlay of a heart and
leaves, etched designs, hallmarked for maker "TA" in a shield shape,
Birmingham sterling and the date letter for 1899. This has a cold soldered
hinge repair so it is priced "as is", 1-5/8" by 5/8", as is.

View
#V38255


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose and yellow gold overlay and
designs of hearts, forget-me-not flowers and leaves, 2" by 7/8:, illegible
hallmarks.

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#V38256




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlay. The center
motif is running feet and legs, called a triskele or a triskelion. There are
flowers on either side, as well as a beaded edge, hallmarked for Chester
sterling, date 1900, maker’s mark hard to read. The

flag of the Isle of Man
, is composed solely of a triskele, but I am not
sure this pin relates to that symbol. Christine K tells me that the legs are
armored, so they stand for the Isle of Man. Thank you Christine!

View
#V38266

VICTORIAN
sterling and clear paste oval pin with ivy leaves around the
edge, 1-1/8" by 7/8". Hallmarked for Birmingham sterling dated 1892. This is
priced as is because one paste of the four is grayed.

View
#V38267


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with entwined horseshoes, roses and
leaves on an oval pin with a scalloped edge, 1-1/2" by 1". Marked on the
reverse, "S.Bros" and a faint hallmark circa 1900.

View
#V38268





VICTORIAN
sterling with rose gold overlay pin with a star, flowers,
etched designs and a beaded edge, 1-5/8" by 5/8". Maker’s mark, "W.C.M" and
hallmarked for Birmingham sterling and the date for 1892.

View
#V38269

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with rose gold overlay showing double
horseshoes for good luck, flowers and leaves and a beaded edge, 1-3/4" by
1". Maker’s mark "S.Bros" hallmarked for Birmingham sterling date 1890.

View
#V38270

VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with anchor, heart and cross, symbols for Faith, Hope & Charity
or Love as well as a horseshoe, and flowers and tiny etched designs, circa
1900, 1-3/4" by 3/4".

View
#V38271




VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a horseshoe surrounded by flowers
and leaves with a beaded edge, 1". Maker’s mark, "S&B" and hallmarked for
Chester sterling with a date letter for 1887.

View
#V38274


VICTORIAN
sterling sweetheart pin with a center horseshoe with chain
links on either side1-7/8" by 1/3". Maker’s mark "M&J" and hallmarked for
Birmingham sterling date 1889. Maker may be Mason & Jones per 925 web site.

View
#V38275


REFERENCES:
"Victorian Sentimental Jewellery" by Diana Cooper & Norman
Battershill, published in 1972

Warman’s Jewelry by Christie Romero, Ed 3


Victorian Jewelry by Davidov & Dawes

EV Roddin Catalogue, 1887-9