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One of the most exciting parts of my work is when I come across treasures like the brooch you can see in the picture! A client came in to find out a bit more about it and who the figures were on it as they thought it might be Russian due to the ornate enamel colours. The brooch belonged to her mother but no one had any idea of how or why she owned it. 

It was, in fact, a rare British commemorative brooch made from bloomed and polished yellow gold, diamonds and enamels. It was most likely made to commemorate either the Coronation in 1911 or the Silver Jubilee in 1935 of King George V and Queen Mary. A number of different styles of brooch like this were made, possibly for a staff member or distant relative, but to find one in solid 9ct gold is rare. At this time, it wasn’t unusual for the public to spend a great deal of money on commemorative jewellery to mark allegiances to the Crown, therefore marking their position in society.

The crown at the top of the brooch is modelled on the crown that appears at the top of the Coat of Arms for Mary of Teck (the formal name for Queen Mary, George V’s wife) when she was Royal Consort.  The five petalled roses are traditional heraldic roses and the same ones were included on the embroidery of her coronation gown.  

This beautiful piece of British history was valued in the mid hundreds but could do very well if it appeared on the open market and would appeal to Royalist collectors.

Originally published in the Purbeck Gazette on 11th November 2024.