Edwardian 9ct Gold Seed Pearl Lover's Knot Bar Brooch | Birmingham 1909 to 1910 | Fully Hallmarked | Fine

Some pieces of jewellery carry their age as a burden. This one wears it as a grace note.

This is a fully hallmarked Edwardian bar brooch in solid 9 carat gold, made and assayed at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1909 to 1910 — the final years of the Edwardian era, in the last months of King Edward VII's reign. The central motif is a lover's knot: that timeless figure-of-eight symbol of eternal fidelity and devotion that was a favourite of Victorian and Edwardian jewellers and is as eloquent now as it was then. The knot is set throughout with natural seed pearls, their soft, warm lustre perfectly complementing the rose gold tone of the metal. Further seed pearls are set at intervals along the bar, the whole composition delicate, restrained and quietly beautiful.

Bar brooches of this kind were the everyday jewellery of Edwardian women — worn at the collar or lapel, given as gifts between sweethearts and friends, and kept for a lifetime. They were made in their thousands, but a fully hallmarked example in solid gold with intact seed pearls and a crisp, unworn pin is considerably harder to find than the numbers might suggest. The lover's knot motif adds a further dimension — this is a piece with symbolic weight as well as aesthetic charm, and the hallmarks give us its precise biography: made by a Birmingham goldsmith, submitted to the Birmingham Assay Office, and stamped with the date letter for 1909 to 1910.

Condition: Fine, and remarkable for a piece of over 115 years of age. The gold bar is straight and undamaged. The seed pearls retain good natural lustre throughout. One pearl is absent from its setting — noted honestly and consistent with the age of the piece. All remaining pearls are secure and intact. This is an honest flaw in a 115 year old brooch and is reflected in the price. The pin mechanism is original and functions correctly. The hallmark sequence is crisp and fully legible: sponsor's mark SBRO, fineness mark 375 confirming solid 9ct gold, Birmingham anchor assay mark, and date letter k for 1909 to 1910. A piece that has been very carefully kept.

About this piece: Edwardian 9ct gold jewellery with full Birmingham hallmarks and intact original settings represents the very best of the period's everyday fine jewellery tradition — unpretentious, beautifully made, and honest about what it is. The lover's knot has been a symbol of devotion for centuries and continues to resonate. This brooch would make an exceptional gift, a meaningful addition to a collection of antique jewellery, or simply something beautiful to wear every day.

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Packed with stiff packing paper, card and a sturdy outer box for safe delivery anywhere in the world.