Antique Georgian sterling silver paste brooch, crimped silver settings, hallmarked / stamped 00

Beautiful Georgian sterling silver and paste brooch dating from the early 1800s (circa 1820-1830). The brooch is beautifully crafted with faceted clear paste stones set in crimped silver settings with closed backs. These types of paste stone are sometimes called 'black dot' stones as they sometimes had a dot of black painted on the back to give type of depth.

The brooch is about 1.5 inches long by 1 1/4 inches wide and fastens with an antique C hook clasp and pin. The stamp on the back seems to read, simply, 00 and I don't know what this would have represented (unless a maker with initials OO). However, the metal has been tested and is solid sterling silver.

This is an amazing piece that would have been worn in Jane Austen's time, yet it is in quite good vintage condition. In some lights one stone might occasionally show a slight yellowing and there is a slight chip to the largest oval paste stone - the white arrow in picture nine points to where the chip is as it is very hard to see.