pnvc1041-Victorian aesthetic period silver brooch with copper and yellow gold overlay and keepsake compartment

A late Victorian mixed metal silver brooch with a keepsake compartment in the back. The top of the brooch is a scalloped oval with beading and concentric ornamentation. The center of the brooch is a foliar design with copper and yellow gold accents. There is a fly alongside the foliage and nearby flower. The back has a tube hinge and C clasp. The pin is unmarked sterling silver. 1-5/8 by 1-1/4 inches. Depth is 3/8 inch.

The Aesthetic Movement flourished in America and England from around 1868-1901. The movement was a reaction to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution. In jewelry terms, this reaction meant that mechanically-produced jewelry was no longer fashionable. and artisan produced jewelry was more desirable. The discovery of Japanese art had a profound influence on the movement and the aesthetic movement often incorporated nature motifs such as flowers birds and leaves, as seen on this lovely brooch.