Antique Victorian 18ct Gold Early Australian Forget Me Not Colonial Brooch

Such a delightful early Australian Forget Me Not brooch from the Victorian era, c1870! Made of 18ct 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 flowers, leaves, tendrils and a fanciful frame. The three-dimensional motifs have highly textured surfaces and are distinct to early Australian jewellery. A pin and later revolver style clasp makes up the rest of the brooch from behind. As with many early Australian Colonial pieces, this piece is not marked, an XRF test indicates 18ct gold.

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!