Antique Victorian 20ct Gold Early Australian Forget Me Not Colonial Brooch

Another delightful early Australian Forget Me Not brooch from the Victorian era, c1860! Made of 20ct yellow gold, this wonderful brooch is steeped with oodles of Australian history, the brooch was made in Australia's high Colonial period (1850- 1900). With the emergence of Australia's gold discoveries many highly skilled immigrant jewellers voyaged over, mainly from Europe, to put their goldsmith talents to work. The delicately crafted brooch depicts a bird holding a note with the words 'FORGET ME NOT' which is surrounded with foliage, tendrils and a fanciful oval frame. The three-dimensional motifs have highly chased surfaces and are distinct to early Australian jewellery. Finishing the brooch is a metal pin and c-clasp on the reverse, there is also a safety chain/pin connected to a ring on the back of the brooch. As with many early Australian Colonial pieces, this piece is not marked, an XRF test indicates 20ct gold.

Note* The brooch does bear some damage to some of the leaves, and losses to the bird, priced accordingly.

Similar early Australian Forget Me Not style brooches can be seen in the book 'Australian Jewellers Gold & Silversmiths Makers & Marks'  by Cavill, Cocks and Grace - pages 211 and 296.

A particularly lovely and highly sought after early Australian piece, perfect for any collector of Australian antique jewellery. It would also make a charming accent on the collar!