This wonderful antique silver Saint Esprit brooch is a beautiful piece of Victorian jewellery steeped in symbolic sentiment.
Beautifully modelled as a pair of doves carrying a dangling heart that jiggles with every movement the brooch is meticulously handcrafted in 900 silver and set with sparkling white French paste gemstones, and if you look closely you can see that these little love birds have ruby red paste eyes too.
Saint Esprit translates to the Holy Ghost and is a dove-shaped religious symbol. Popular in France during the late eighteenth-century St Esprit jewellery was made in either silver or gold and set with gemstones, both real and paste. It is a beloved jewellery motif speaking of peace, love and fidelity.
Bursting with sentiment and symbolism this sweet little antique St. Esprit silver brooch is a classic token of love, utterly charming and very collectible!
MATERIALS: 900 silver
GEMSTONES: paste (glass)
MEASUREMENTS: 1 1/4" (3.4cm) across
WEIGHT: 4.3 grams
DATE: circa 1880, Victorian
HALLMARKS: stamped '900'
CONDITION: in beautiful antique condition, the silver nice and bright with all the stones present and secure, the pin back in perfect working order