A Regency Cabochon Amethyst Brooch with a Prince of Wales Feather Mount

            Originally part of a Regency parure (a set of jewels intended to be worn together) this brooch made in 1812 would almost certainly have been worn to the Brighton Pavilion at a ball held by the Prince Regent (the future George IV) as it features the three ostrich feathers of the Prince of Wales in the eighteen carat gold mount.  This small detail may well have been intentional to flatter the Prince Regent, especially if it was worn around a lady’s revealing décolleté.  However, like many things in the Regency era, not all is as it seems.  

The large cabochon amethyst with its shades of purple and indigo is very striking.  Yet if you look closely at the stone you will notice a zig zag lightning bolt running from the top, down.  This is not a trick of the light or an addition I have made to the photo.  It is a clue as to the truth behind this stone.  It is not, in fact, an amethyst at all.  It is, in actuality, a piece of foiled glass: glass with coloured foil hidden behind it in the mount to give it the appearance of a gemstone!  The zig zag is a small crack in the foil onto which the glass is mounted, revealing a thin layer of protective silver behind the foil.  During the Regency period in England, it was more important to look the part than for it necessarily to be so.   

You might be disappointed by this fact or think that because it is a piece of glass with coloured foil in the back that it is not valuable.  It is quite the contrary.  Quality foiled jewellery of this age is actually very valuable.  In fact, this brooch is worth significantly more than if there were a real cabochon amethyst mounted into it.  Antique foil gemstones are worth as much as high quality diamonds!  

Private collection.

This year the FFF+ Group have decided to have a weekly challenge called “Snap Happy”.  A different theme chosen by a member of the group each week, and the image is to be posted on the Monday of the week.

This week the theme, “purple” was chosen by me!   

I felt that this brooch was a perfect way to share the colour purple of the theme.

Taken on: August 31, 2020

Tags:

Snap Happy

purple

Famous Flickr Five

Flickr Famous Five

Regency

regency era

Regency period

1812

1800s

Prince Regent

Prince of Wales feathers

George IV

jewellery

jewelry

carat

18 carat

eighteen carat

antique

amethyst

flowers

gold

brooch

broach

parure

cabochon

cabochon amethyst

faux

fake

false

faux amethyst

fake amethyst

foil jewel

foil backing

foil backed jewellery

foil backed jewelry

foil backed jewel

foil backed

reflection

crack

mount

setting

mounting

wreath

18 karat

18 karat gold

18 carat gold

eighteen karat gold

yellow gold

vintage

retro

collection

collectible

collectable

old

fashion

1810s

fashionable

old fashion

old fashioned

classical « less

Sets appears in: • Collectables • All That Glitters more » • Snap Happy • Against a Black Background • Photos During the Time of Pandemic « less

Groups appears in: • Colors of the World • Collections more » • collection and collectors • Old Fashion • Photographic Art • Cool Old Stuff • Antique • Conserving the Beautiful,Antique, Vintage and Costume Jewelry • Nice pictures • Old Stuff • Antiques • History is All Around Us • Antique Jewellery / Jewelry • Collectors: Please read posting guidelines • the collection collective • Object Collections • PIM - Photographers in Melbourne • Opulence & Other Fancy Things. • elegance in art and design • Diamond & Precious Stone Jewelry • Diamonds & Pearls • COLLECTIONS ON DISPLAY • old & vintage • Amazing Antiques • .·:*¨*:·.Nostalgia.·:*¨*:·. • Antiques, Collectibles, Fine Art, Jewelry • Historical jewellery - Renaissance to Victorian/Edwardian • **Collections for Collectors (CFC) No Limits** • colour, colour, colour!!!! • Fashion & Accessories through the years • ((( transcend dépassez supere 超越しなさい ))) • ***This should be a Postcard!*** • Antiquário 〄 Ye Olde Antiques Shoppe 〄 Αντίκες • the art of collecting .. • ! F l i c k r | S t y l e ! • Old & attractive • Jewellery Close-Up • DazzlePix RETRO, VINTAGE & ANTIQUE • Fairy Tale Ornament • School of Digital Photography • I captured something awesome on this planet ! • Items and Art from B.C. - 1912 A.D. • Objects & Art • small object • Colours on black (p 1/ a 3 with award code) • Colours of Flickr • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • The best photographs from around the world. • Photo-Phactory • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD • COOL_FIGURES • FFF+ Snap Happy « less

Camera: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, f/2.8, 1/15 sec, 6.2mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.067 sec (1/15)
Focal Length:	6.2mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Show full info

Stats: 5,281 views / 39 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: