Early Victorian Antique Agate Pinchbeck Brooch

This showstopping brooch is from the early Victorian era, the centre is a large oval piece of agate with warm autumnal hues and chamfered edges framed by repoussé scrolls in pinchbeck. On the reverse is the original pin and 'C' shaped clasp. Pinchbeck was created by Christopher Pinchbeck and is a form of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc to resemble gold in appearance. When lower carat gold was legalised in 1854 Pinchbeck fell out of use however the colour it displays is very attractive and indicative of that period.

PERIOD - Circa 1845
STONE - Agate
METAL - Pinchbeck
MEASUREMENTS - Brooch 5.5cm x 6.7cm, Agate 3.7cm x 5cm
WEIGHT - 22.59 grams
CONDITION - Very Good, wear consistent with age