Vintage gold tone and operculum Victorian triple large cabochon brooch - pinchbeck or gold plated

Vintage / antique operculum shell cabochon and gold tone brooch, from around the Victorian period. Operculum was used in high end jewellery in the late 19th and early 20th century. The cabochons are formed by polishing sections of snail shells, and is prized for its pretty white, orange and green patterns.

This brooch is not stamped or marked, so could be gold plated or pinchbeck perhaps, it is unlikely to be solid gold, though the pin may be silver. It is about 2 1/4 inches by 3/4 inch in size.

The vintage condition is generally good, though the rectangular plate on the back has some kinks and the pin has a slight bend in the very tip that doesn't affect its function. Operculum is a natural shell with its own variations in tone and surface texture. The close-up in picture seven shows one area in the larget cabochon where the top layer has chipped away. The enamel glaze is over the top of this, so it must have been present in the original cabochon rather than damage to the brooch.