Parian Brooch, about 1850

Description:: It is possible that this was used in mourning as it is without sheen, is colorless and is a wreath, a symbol generally associated with mourning and everlasting life in the mid nineteenth century.Furthermore the forget-me-nots scattered throughout the piece are often found on mourning jewelry.A curator from the Bennington Museum in Vermont stated (1964) that this was likely to be a British piece based on the configuration of specifics of the flowers--perhaps Minton.Parian porcelain jewelry was rather popular at mid-century; however, it is astonishingly fragile and very few pieces have survived.This is a rare survival and is one of two parian porcelain brooches in the collection at The Henry Ford.
Date Issued:: [1825 TO 1875]
Data Provider:: Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
Collection:: Digital Dress Collection
Place:: Stoke-on-Trent, England
Subject Topic:: Brooches, Jewelry, and Flowers
Format:: clothing
Rights:: Images are copyright The Henry Ford. Web versions may be used for reference purposes only. If you would like a higher quality image please contact the Benson Ford Research Center.
URL:: http://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:EM02_64_9_4