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Large Victorian Silver, Gold & Opal Cicada Brooch

In Fine Jewelry > Opal Jewelry > Show & Tell and Fine Jewelry > Victorian and Edwardian Jewelry > Show & Tell.
Opal Jewelry30 of 107Copper, opal and gold braceletArts and Crafts Art Deco Silver White Cliffs OPAL Pendant Drop Brooch.
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    Posted 8 years ago

    kiwipaul
    (117 items)

    This is a large (40mm long, about 1.5 inches) late Victorian brooch modeled as a cicada. It probably dates to the 1890's when White Cliffs opal first reached England.

    It's silver that's clad with two coloured yellow and rose gold and beautifully engraved. The engraving produces a moire effect on the wings that was very hard to capture, you can kind of see it in the last two pics. It combines nicely with the opals to suggest the natural colours and wing patterns of these big bugs.

    The Victorians loved symbolism in their jewellery. The cicada is a symbol of rebirth and immortality, because they survive underground then emerge to soar up to the sky, so this piece was probably intended as a token of eternal love.

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    Comments

    1. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      This is absolutely gorgeous.......
    2. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      WONDERFUL OBJECT !!!!
    3. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Swoon....
    4. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      Grrr, Paul! I'm so envious of your cicada!!!
      Splendid catch :-)
      The case seems to be the original one!
    5. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      This definitely as the wow factor, Paul.
    6. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Stunning!!! Bug, silver, gold AND opal....can't get any better !!!!
    7. Manikin Manikin, 8 years ago
      Amazing and kyratango this would fit beautifully in your collection :-) Love it
    8. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      Ha, Mani, I'd say it is Kyratangable ;-D
    9. trunkman trunkman, 8 years ago
      Stunningly beautiful...
    10. Agram.m Agram.m, 7 years ago
      Gorgeous find what a beauty!
    11. cottonball cottonball, 7 years ago
      Oh! I just love this piece! What a GEM!!!
    12. Gillian, 7 years ago
      It looks stunning in the green case. An amazing piece.
    13. pebble pebble, 7 years ago
      Oh my goodness, I could click love 100 times!
    14. kyratango kyratango, 7 years ago
      Me too ;-)
    15. Celiene Celiene, 7 years ago
      Superb!
    16. raven3766 raven3766, 5 years ago
      Beautiful!
    17. Newfld Newfld, 5 years ago
      Thank you for finding this timely piece Radegunder, as the cicadas are humming their summer swan song in our trees just lately. The bugs I don't like, but this brooch is beyond gorgeous, compliments to you kiwipaul for this beautiful post!
    18. Vynil33rpm Vynil33rpm, 5 years ago
      Talk about being the queen bee
    19. jscott0363 jscott0363, 5 years ago
      What a BEAUTIFUL cicada brooch!! Simply outstanding!

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