SOLD ELIZA - Victorian Silver Puzzle Name Pin- unmarked - Circa 1880's - 1890's

This is a very unusual shaped Victorian Name Brooch - it’s an oval with the name ELIZA on it. It is not hallmarked sterling silver but I believe it to be silver. The name itself has been arranged as a puzzle leaving anyone viewing it the fun of working out which name the letters spell.  Each individual letter has been cut out and is further decorated with various engraved patterns - a different one for each of the 5 letters.. 'Eliza' in puzzle form is a cut out which is mounted within an oval decorative frame. In a nod to the Etruscan style there is a run of twelve decorative balls around the  rim . This antique brooch is a type of  puzzle pin design found in Victorian name brooches of the 1880s and 1890s. It is an oval shape with pierced decoration. It is about 1.75 inches long and 1.5 inches in width.  To the reverse you can see the pierced part with the cut out letters on has been mounted within the outer frame. So  like all antique brooches of this period it fastens with a 'c' type clasp and has an extra long pin. This fabulous piece of original Victorian jewellery is in very good condition too. I never over clean antique brooches as collectors often want their Victorian or Edwardian jewellery to look as if it has some age to them. This would clean up bright and shiny with a silver cleaner if you wanted it to look like new!

Name brooches were a great favourite with Victorian and Edwardian ladies. These antique brooches and pins started out as name badges for the staff in large country houses and later became popular sweetheart brooches. Many were made in Birmingham, England's jewellery quarter, and they are becoming most fashionable again with the resurgence of lovely old names that were popular in the 19th and early 20th Century.
 

JEWELLERY DETAILS

Designer or Brand: Makers mark - None

Country of Origin: UK

Condition: Very Good

Decade: 1880s

Era: Antique

Type: Name Brooch

Material: Sterling silver to the best of my belief.