Georgian Hair Gold Brooch - Bonnet, Veil, Lace, Fichu order Pin Inscribed

Georgian Hair Brooch - Lace, Fichu, Bonnet Veil Pin Inscribed

Lovely and sweet late Georgian, Early Victorian Fichu Pin or brooch in a 10k gold setting with tabled worked blonde hair under glass. Brooch measures 7/8" in width by 1/2" in height, with period correct tube hinge and "c" clasp closure. Pin back extends beyond the body of the brooch by more than 1/4". There is a word inscribed poorly on the back - PHILIA, an ancient Greek word for love, in Greek characters. It's upside down in the pics, which makes it a little hard to read. In good condition aside for the poor inscribing, but it does make it a more romantic piece!

These tiny Lace or Fichu pins are so called because they were frequently used to confine a length of lace at the neckline or at the throat, or sometimes to attach drapery at the shoulder. It is interesting to note that although the term “pin” to mean “brooch” is an American custom, in England these little brooches were always referred to as “pins,” either lace pins or handkerchief pins, probably because their function was similar to that of a dress pin, to hold something in place, and was not merely ornamental. Dresses of the day had very low cut front bodices; consequently it was necessary to drape scarves or sections of lace across the shoulders to cover the exposed décolleté. Brooches of this genre were used to pin the scarves together or fasten to the dress.

The Georgians and Victorians were very fond of hair jewelry. Godey's Lady's Book endorsed the fashion of hair jewelry and made it easy to acquire. The following excerpt extolling the virtues of hair work is from c. 1850:

"Hair is at once the most delicate and last of our materials and survives us like love. It is so light, so gentle, so escaping from the idea of death, that, with a lock of hair belonging to a child or friend we may almost look up to heaven and compare notes with angelic nature, may almost say, I have order a piece of thee here, not unworthy of thy being now."

Please take a look at my other original Victorian and Georgian era brooches -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/victoriansentiments?section_id=7179660