Originally part of a Regency parure (a set of jewels intended to be worn together) this brooch made in 1812 would almost certainly have been worn to the Brighton Pavilion at a ball held by the Prince Regent (the future George IV) as it features the three ostrich feathers of the Prince of Wales in the eighteen carat gold mount. This small detail may well have been intentional to flatter the Prince Regent, especially if it was worn around a lady’s revealing décolleté. However, like many things in the Regency era, not all is as it seems.
The large cabochon amethyst with its shades of purple and indigo is very striking. Yet if you look closely at the stone you will notice a zig zag lightning bolt running from the top, down. This is not a trick of the light or an addition I have made to the photo. It is a clue as to the truth behind this stone. It is not, in fact, an amethyst at all. It is, in actuality, a piece of foiled glass: glass with coloured foil hidden behind it in the mount to give it the appearance of a gemstone! The zig zag is a small crack in the foil onto which the glass is mounted, revealing a thin layer of protective silver behind the foil. During the Regency period in England, it was more important to look the part than for it necessarily to be so.
You might be disappointed by this fact or think that because it is a piece of glass with coloured foil in the back that it is not valuable. It is quite the contrary. Quality foiled jewellery of this age is actually very valuable. In fact, this brooch is worth significantly more than if there were a real cabochon amethyst mounted into it. Antique foil gemstones are worth as much as high quality diamonds!
Private collection.
This year the FFF+ Group have decided to have a weekly challenge called “Snap Happy”. A different theme chosen by a member of the group each week, and the image is to be posted on the Monday of the week.
This week the theme, “purple” was chosen by me!
I felt that this brooch was a perfect way to share the colour purple of the theme.