Victorian Jewellery: What Would You Buy

Victorian jewellery isn't all about choker necklaces and cameo brooches. Encompassing more than 60 years, there are many diverse types of jewellery pieces and jewellery making styles that epitomise the different eras of the Victorian period.

Queen Victoria herself often influenced the jewellery fashions of the age but jewellery design was also increasingly affected by imports, archaeological discoveries and travel overseas. Artistic expression is often said to be categorised by different periods, namely Romantic, Grand and Aesthetic.

Reflecting the wave of optimism following the crowning of the new young queen and her marriage to Prince Albert, jewellery was designed with romanticism in mind. Pieces were often produced with open gold work with intricate designs based on the filigree, piercing, repoussé and cannetille techniques. With the price of gold high, none of these works had huge amounts of gold but rather the designers took th! eir time manufacturing and would occasionally include thin plates of gold on a piece with perhaps some engraving. Gemstones would accompany the gold with choices of turquoise, topaz, peridot, ruby, sapphires and emeralds to name a few. The designs desired included flowers; serpents, a sign of eternity; lockets with the hair of a loved one enclosed; songbirds and love knots and miniatures. Cameos from conch shells are one of the most famous editions from Victorian jewellery.



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