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Empress Elizabeth's brooch

Accession Number CRRMU : 1984.32

Description

Antique circular 14ct gold brooch, with enamelled head motif supported by a double wing motif set with 11 small rose-cut diamonds, framed by a circular border of 43 seed pearls, this being bordered by rope design; the back of the brooch has a compartment for picture for hair, given by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria to John Fox, postmaster of Cromer in 1887; made about 1820-1860

Read MoreEmpress Elizabeth's brooch

Geoffrey Munn from the Antiques Roadshow got in touch with our volunteer after she posted an image of the brooch on her Instagram page and suggested that it was more likely to be c. 1860. He also suggested that a brooch like this would have only been given from one woman to another which raises the possibility it was actually given to Mrs Fox? He also considered it too modest a piece for the Empress to have considered wearing herself.

Creation Date 1820

Material diamondsrose-cut

Measurements 30 mm

Department Cromer Museum

Inscription C.M.