An early Australian 15ct yellow gold seed pearl crescent moon…
click the photo to enlarge
An early Australian 15ct yellow gold seed pearl crescent moon and red paste gemstone bar brooch, made by T Willis & Co, Melbourne, circa 1920, with antique box. Total weight 4.3grams.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Paste / Rhinestone / Diamante - Paste (or rhinestone or diamante) is the name given to a coloured glass composition used for imitation gemstones, or to imitation gemstones made of glass.

    Although the technique of glassmaking had been known for thousands of years, but it wasn't until a lead glass with similar optical properties to diamonds were invented by a German jeweller working in Paris (either "Stras" or 'Strasser") in the early 18th century that "paste" gemstones became popular.

    There was no social stigma attached to wearing imitation stones, and they were worn in situations where highway robbery was a possibility. The 18th century settings were of very high quality, equivilent to real gemstone jewellery.

    In the nineteeth century the quality of paste jewellery declined and it has remained the poor cousin to genuine gemstones ever since.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

Engraved 9ct yellow gold bracelet with bolt clasp, approx 20 grams, 19 cm in lenghth

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

An Australian 9ct yellow gold filigree bar brooch one round red paste gemstone, made by T. Willis, Melbourne

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A Victorian gold bracelet circa 1840, the fancy link bracelet with two-tone, cabochon garnet set hand clasp. Yellow gold. Weight 18.5 grams. Length 20 cm.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A lovely antique pearl and diamond brooch. 18ct yellow gold, made as a Victorian bar brooch of large size, detailed along length with single claw set old cut diamonds, each end point terminating in a cluster of three, centred by a floral style cluster set

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.