Antique floral lily of the valley brooch in 9ct gold decorated with real seed pearl cabochons and real Persian turquoise cabochons
Antique floral lily of the valley brooch in 9ct gold decorated with real seed pearl cabochons and real Persian turquoise cabochons
Adorable antique floral lily of the valley brooch in 9ct gold decorated with real seed pearl cabochons and real Persian turquoise cabochons. It is 1.5 inches in length, weighs less than 1 gram and fastens with a simple antique safety pin style hook clasp for the pin on the reverse.
It has two sets of stamps on the reverse. One is H G & S Ltd which I believe is Henry Griffith & Sons who worked out of Birmingham in the UK (see below for a little history). The second set include the gold hallmarks showing 375 for 9ct gold and the area and year hallmarks (I have been told Birmingham and probably 1904, which would be consistent with this Art Nouveau / Arts and Crafts design). The brooch is in good vintage condition. - please examine photos carefully for a full condition report.
H. G. & S. Ltd: I believe this mark refers to the UK silver and jewellery manufacturers, Henry Griffith & Sons, established in 1850 by Henry Griffith (born 1825). He registered his first hallmark with the Birmingham Assay Office in 1858. The firm was listed and recorded between 1885 and 1947 as manufacturers of gold and gem bracelets, brooches, earrings, rings, tiaras, necklaces, lockets, pendants as well as signet rings, studs, cufflinks, cigarette cases, watch bands, gold and silver pencil cases, thimbles and napkin rings.