I have a deep love for Bohemian garnets, as they are some of the first pieces of antique jewelry I started collecting. I especially love rose cut garnets in unusual shapes and sizes, and this brooch is an excellent example. Likely constructed in Bavaria, and dating to the late 1800s, this substantial pin is made in a gothic revival style, and is set with luminous, deep red pyrope garnets and a scattering of natural (not cultured) seed pearls. I am especially fond of the central garnet, cut into a faceted octagon with a pearl set in its center. The pin is made of silver (likely 800 or 900 silver, but tests lower than sterling) and was once gilt or gold washed, as evidenced by the remaining gold on the back.
Pin measures 1.5" at its widest point, and is in excellent condition. There is some chipping to one pearl in particular (shown in photos), but since naturally occurring pearls are made almost entirely of nacre, the chipping simply reveals another layer of nacre underneath.
