An Australian gold nugget and agate brooch, circa 1860 with a…
click the photo to enlarge
An Australian gold nugget and agate brooch, circa 1860 with a cushion shaped section of banded agate within a border of natural gold nuggets and high carat gold bars, unmarked, 6 cm wide, 38.7 grams, The brooch is reputed to be made in Bendigo from nuggets mined at Creswick by a Dr Lawson and set with a section of agate from his home town in Scotland. It was inherited by his daughter, who passed it on to a relative who worked in the millinery department of the first Myer store in Bendigo, prior to the First World War, and then to the present owner.

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.
  • 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.
  • Agate - Agate is a type of semi-precious gemstone that is made up of silica dioxide, a mineral that is also found in quartz. It is known for its distinctive banded patterns, which are created as layers of silica are deposited in different colours including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. It is often used in jewellery, decorative objects, and other decorative items, and it is prized for its beauty and durability. Agate is found in many parts of the world, including Brazil, India, and the United States.
  • Carat - A carat (abbreviated "ct") is a unit of measurement used to describe the weight of a diamond or other gemstone, and separately is a unit of measurement used to describe the weight of precious metals such as gold,.

    For gemstones, one carat is equal to 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. The weight of a diamond is one of the Four Cs (along with cut, colour, and clarity) that are used to determine a diamond's value.

    It is important to note that a diamond's weight does not necessarily correspond to its size. A diamond's cut, which affects how well it reflects light, can make a diamond of a lower weight appear larger than a diamond of a higher weight. Additionally, the carat is not the only factor to determine the value of a diamond, other factors such as clarity, colour and cut are important too.

    In the gold industry, the purity of gold is measured in carats (abbreviated "ct"), with 24 karats being pure gold and lower carat numbers indicating a lower purity level. So, for example, 18 carat gold is 18/24 or 75% pure gold, and 12 carat gold is 12/24 or 50% pure gold.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A Victorian pietra dura demi-parure, circa 1850. The rectangular brooch and pear-shaped drops each with butterfly motif. Yellow gold. Total weight 24 grams. Length of brooch 40 mm. Width 55m. Length of earrings 58 mm. Hook attachments

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

An impressive 18ct. yellow and white gold emerald and diamond cluster ring, the central square emerald cut emerald of 3.23cts. held in four double claws, the white gold surround with 24 bead set round brilliant cut diamonds, decorative split shoulder desig

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

A Carlton Ware Rouge Royale pagoda pattern bowl

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

Antique carnelian and 9ct gold brooch with a foil back set surround marked 9ct 22 mm x 26 mm

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